In 2019, a survey was conducted before and after a mental health first aid training was given to firefighters and fire officers at the Perth Amboy, Bloomfield, and Carteret fire departments.

The survey showed that the training had the strongest impact on the participants’ confidence in helping others with a mental illness. Before the training, only 42 percent felt confident in giving assistance to someone with a mental illness, while after the session, that proportion jumped to 92 percent.

In addition, a predisposition by participants to distance themselves from people with mental illness was reduced. Participants reported they were more willing to work with a colleague with mental illness and live next door to or socialize with someone with a mental illness after the training.