Geoff, Mike and Manisha (Frontine Strong Togther - Michigan's First Responder Mental Health Initiative) - Episode 1051

Geoff Lassers is a professional Firefighter, Paramedic, educator, and content creator. Mike Mattern, a professional firefighter and paramedic. In addition, Mike is a Peer Support Team Member for his fire department and the FST5 Program. Manisha Leary, LMSW, is the FST5 Program Manager and a clinical psychotherapist specializing in trauma.

Frontline Strong Together (FST5) was created in support of Police Officers, Fire Fighters, EMS, Correctional Officers, 911 Dispatchers, and their immediate families. FST5 is the result of collaboration between mental health professionals and first responders. This project aims to help first responders and their families overcome invisible injuries and stress caused by the difficulties of their professions, and to improve the quality of their life and prosperity.

The state of Michigan provided a grant and selected Wayne State University – Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, to partner with first responder professional unions and other interest groups to address the mental health of our first responders across all 83 Michigan counties.

Geoff and Mike are also the co-hosts of the Minds on the Frontline Podcast.