ST. PAUL, MN — A proposed bill aimed at improving mental health support for first responders through outdoor activities has advanced in a House committee.
The legislation, HF 491, would allocate $500,000 over two years to Hometown Hero Outdoors, an organization that provides outdoor recreational therapy for police officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, and their families. A companion bill, HF 492, seeks an additional $500,000 over the same period to extend similar support to military personnel and veterans.
This initiative was introduced in the previous legislative session but failed to gain traction, according to Hometown Hero Outdoors President Chris Tetrault. If passed, the funding will be distributed as follows: 50% for outdoor services, 30% for additional mental health resources, 10% for outreach, and 10% for administrative costs.
Outdoor Therapy for Mental Well-Being
Hometown Hero Outdoors organizes activities such as hunting, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and dog sledding, primarily in northern Minnesota. Tetrault emphasized the therapeutic benefits of outdoor recreation, particularly for first responders who experience extreme emotional highs and lows throughout their workday.
“(Our first responders) are experiencing things on a dramatic roller coaster day in, day out,” he said. “You might go from a routine traffic stop to a domestic violence call to a suicide, and then suddenly, you’re helping someone’s grandmother.”
The funding would also enhance the organization’s crisis response training and establish partnerships with Minnesota-based mental health professionals.
A Push for Alternative Mental Health Support
The bill was passed by the House Public Safety and Finance Policy Committee on the one-year anniversary of the tragic deaths of three Burnsville first responders who were killed in the line of duty on February 18, 2024.
Rep. Jeff Witte (R-Lakeville), a co-author of the bill and a former law enforcement officer, highlighted the long-term mental toll on first responders.
“Most first responders encounter about 850 critical incidents throughout their careers,” Witte said. “The mental health piece is crucial to support those who help us in our most difficult moments.”
Witte also pointed out the stigma surrounding mental health in first responder communities, which often discourages individuals from seeking professional help.
“Forty-five percent of firefighters have contemplated suicide, and one in three first responders develop PTSD,” Witte said. “This program provides a confidential, peer-supported alternative for healing.”
Rep. Josiah Hill (DFL-Stillwater), the bill’s chief author, stressed that fostering a strong, supportive community is key to helping first responders heal.
“It’s about being active outdoors, engaging in a community, and forging powerful connections,” Hill said. “That connection is what leads to the healing that we want for our heroes.”
With bipartisan support, the bill now moves forward in the legislative process, signaling growing recognition of the urgent need to address mental health challenges among first responders.
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