If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline available 24/7. To reach the 24/7 Crisis Text Helpline, text 4HOPE to 741741.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — May is Mental Health Awareness month and for a lot of first responders, it can be difficult to come forward.

The Columbus Division of Police is working to address that.

Columbus police officer Don Paden has been in law enforcement for three decades. He says while they’ve come a long way when it comes to addressing first responders’ mental health, the work isn’t done just yet.

“I started back in 1990,” he said. “Back then, we didn’t we didn’t talk about our feelings. You know, you would just swallow those feelings down and you didn’t allow yourself to be emotional.”

Paden said that back then, police didn’t go to counseling, thinking it was a sign of weakness. He hopes that won’t be the same for the younger generation of first responders.

“I don’t want them to end up like we did,” Paden said. “I’ve had a lot of friends that have killed themselves because of this job, a lot of friends who have become alcoholics, drug addicts, because of this job, and I want to be able to help them not have the hurt that I have gone through.”

Paden said opening the Wellness Center has been a huge step in the right direction. It’s a place where officers can go and talk about their feelings, and it’s completely confidential.

“I would love to see officers get to the point where they talk as freely about going to the wellness center to get mental health help, as I do about saying, ‘Hey, I’m going to the gym,’” Paden said.

He said being an officer can be the best and worst job at the same time, adding that you can’t do this job and not expect to have problems mentally and emotionally.

“We’re people, too,” Paden said. “We need to have a place to be able to go to, to be able to learn about those feelings, express them, manage them, and so that we can grow from what we’ve seen in a healthy way.”

A video about the wellness center features Dave Gerold with the Columbus Division of Fire. The center is also open to them as well. In the video, Gerold said first responders will find three things when going there: confidentiality, community and connection.

“We want to meet members where they are and get to know them a little bit better and really investigate what’s not working for them and get them connected with a resource that could help them through whatever situation that is,” he said.

Paden said he hopes that first responders can get to a place where they are open about seeking counseling. But, for now, he will continue to advocate for them and make sure they know they’re not alone.

If you or someone you know needs help, resources are available to you.