Mayor Eduardo Martinez
City of Richmond
September 23, 2025
Recognizing September as Suicide Awareness and
Prevention Month & Honoring the Richmond Fire
Department’s Peer Support Team
WHEREAS, suicide rates have been rising across the United States, Richmond residents, like communities across the country, face behavioral health challenges that can be intensified by trauma, isolation, economic hardship, and stigma; and
WHEREAS, suicide is preventable, and access to compassionate care, community connection, and crisis support can save lives. The City of Richmond encourages everyone to access support services like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which offers free, confidential help 24/7 by phone, text, or chat; and
WHEREAS, the Richmond Fire Department recognizes that behavioral health challenges are just as real and serious as the physical dangers firefighters face daily, and acknowledges the profound toll of traumatic events that can lead to depression, substance use, post-traumatic stress injury, and suicide; and
WHEREAS, firefighters and other first responders experience significantly higher rates of suicide and suicidal ideation compared to the general population, with suicide remaining one of the leading causes of firefighter death nationwide, claiming the lives of over 100 firefighters each year; and
WHEREAS, the Richmond Fire Department proudly joins the statewide Stand Down for Behavioral Health initiative during Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month, pausing routine training to prioritize mental wellness, open dialogue, and suicide prevention; and
WHEREAS, over the past 18 months, the Richmond Fire Department has built, launched, and sustained a fully operational Behavioral Health Program, including a Critical Incident Stress Management / Peer Support Team composed of twelve trained and dedicated fire personnel who provide psychological first aid and confidential peer support to their fellow firefighters; and
WHEREAS, all Peer Support Team members have been trained to the standards established in Assembly Bill 1116, the California Firefighter Peer Support and Crisis Referral Services Act, ensuring that Richmond’s program meets the highest standards of care and professionalism; and
WHEREAS, the Richmond Fire Department is honored to be one of only two departments in the State of California to receive official program approval from the California Firefighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee (Cal-JAC), the governing body for statewide fire service training and wellness programs; and
WHEREAS, this recognition by Cal-JAC reflects Richmond Fire Department’s leadership and commitment to excellence, resilience, and proactive care for its members, affirming the department’s role as a statewide model in firefighter behavioral health and wellness; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Richmond hereby proclaims September 2025 as Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month, urging all residents, first responders, and community leaders to prioritize mental health, recognize the warning signs of suicide, and speak openly about behavioral wellness.
FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Richmond wishes to honor and commend the members of the Richmond Fire Department’s Peer Support Team for their compassion, courage, and commitment to their fellow firefighters mental health: Captain Nick Bartesch, Captain Jeremy Booth, Captain Rachel Gomez, Captain Frank Marin, Captain Tom Phelps, Captain Brandon Perry, Team Coordinator Amy Aaronson, Firefighter Lauren Powers, Engineer Trevor Rogers, Engineer Anthony Santos, Captain Alexander Schindler, Engineer Josh Tate, and Firefighter Cody Thie.
Councilmember Soheila Bana
City of Richmond
September 23, 2025
Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda
City of Richmond
September 23, 2025