A 2018 study concluded that more law enforcement officers and firefighters died by suicide in 2017 than all line-of-duty deaths combined. That same study found that public safety personnel are five times more likely to suffer symptoms of PTSD and depression than their civilian counterparts. GPSTC wants to help eliminate the stigma associated with mental health issues and encourage responders from all disciplines to Start the Conversation that may save the lives of our brothers and sisters in public safety.

Start the Conversation is a video-based learning course designed to provide students with information about public safety induced stress and PTSD. The course also provides public safety personnel with information for recognizing the symptoms of stress, PTSD, and suicide. The video includes personal stories from public safety personnel from law enforcement, fire, ems, and communications. Information is provided about peer support, CISM, and other resources available to public safety when faced with stress, PTSD, thoughts of suicide, and line of duty injuries or deaths.