Feinstein Institutes awarded $3.37 million grant to boost first responder mental health

The study, titled “A Large-Scale Efficacy Trial of a Resilience Training Program for First Responders,” will enroll 800 first responders in New York and Texas

A new five-year clinical trial, supported by a $3.37 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), is investigating the mental health of first responders who experience PTSD from both routine duties and crisis events.

The trial, conducted by researchers at Northwell Health's Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Stony Brook University, and Texas A&M University, aims to improve the mental health and resilience of first responders nationwide.

Recent reports indicate that approximately one in seven first responders likely have PTSD from their job, with prevalence increasing after a crisis. This highlights a critical need for better understanding and support for these essential workers.

"First responders face a heightened risk for mental health conditions due to chronic exposure to trauma; Covid-19 demonstrated that firsthand. It’s our duty to support their well-being, especially their mental health," said Dr. Rebecca Schwartz, associate professor at the Feinstein Institutes’ Institute of Behavioral Science and senior director of clinical research with Northwell’s Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention.

"This NIMH grant allows us to rigorously test a preventative intervention that has the potential to significantly enhance resilience and reduce the burden of PTSD and depression in this critical population."

The study, titled “A Large-Scale Efficacy Trial of a Resilience Training Program for First Responders,” will enroll 800 first responders in New York and Texas. Led by Dr Schwartz, alongside Dr Adam Gonzalez of Stony Brook University and Dr Anka Vujanovic of Texas A&M, the trial will compare participants in the WRT program to a time-matched control group, measuring improvements in stress management, physical activity, healthy behaviors, and perceived resilience.

Earlier research by Drs Gonzalez and Schwartz, including a randomized clinical trial with Hurricane Sandy responders, demonstrated WRT’s promise in preventing mental health symptoms and promoting adaptive coping. This new study will rigorously test whether the program can prevent the development or worsening of psychological symptoms and functional impairments in first responders exposed to traumatic events.

"The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the toll of chronic stress on first responders," said Kevin J Tracey, MD, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes. "Dr Schwartz’s research provides scientific insights and new strategies to enhance mental well-being and resilience for essential workers."

If successful, the study could offer a scalable, evidence-based intervention with far-reaching public health benefits, potentially reducing personal, familial, and societal costs linked to mental health challenges among first responders.