The Ripple Effect: Why First Responder Wellness Matters to Us All

Apr 20, 2026 | 1:00 pm ET
(GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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Duration: 75 min
Places left: 100
Price: No Cost
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Speaker

Abigail Tucker

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When a first responder struggles, the impact radiates far beyond the individual—it affects their crew, their family, and the community they are sworn to protect. Join us for “The Ripple Effect,” a vital conversation exploring the intersection of personal resilience and public safety. We dive into the lived experiences of fire and EMS professionals, discussing the “silent” struggles of substance use and mental health that too often go unaddressed until harm occurs. Our panel will explore why first-responder wellness is a community-wide responsibility and how proactive training—such as the curriculum currently being implemented at St. Louis Fire—is shifting the narrative from suffering in silence to building a culture of active support.

 

Julie Nelson

Julie “Julz” Nelson
Firefighter/ Paramedic at South Metro Fire Rescue and Master’s Level Graduate Student at Colorado State University Global
A dedicated advocate for first responder mental health, Julie brings a unique perspective as both a practitioner and a scholar. She is currently a student in the Military & Emergency Responder Psychology (MERP) at CSU Global, where she focuses on the psychological frameworks necessary to sustain long-term careers in high-stress environments. She is also a Firefighter/ Paramedic at South Metro Fire Rescue.

Michael Happ
Resilience Coordinator at Denver Fire Department
Serving as the Wellness Division’s Resiliency Coordinator for the Denver Fire Department, Michael is deeply passionate about employee wellness. He works to ensure that resiliency tools are not just available, but accessible and culturally relevant for every member of the fire and rescue service, regardless of rank or tenure.

Christian Yacula
Training Sgt. at St. Louis Fire Department Bureau of EMS & Heroes Agency Instructor
A Training Sergeant at the St. Louis Fire Department (EMS Division) and a Heroes Agency Trainer, Christian is at the forefront of field-level education. His passion is integrating active bystandership and wellness principles into tactical training, ensuring that “looking out for your partner” includes their mental and physical well-being.

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