Responding to Responders: “With You” Foundation Focuses on Wellness for First Responders 

by Angie Kay Dilmore 

Allen Cormier has worked in law enforcement for over a decade, and prior to police work, he served in the Marine Corps. He’s never experienced a job that wasn’t physically and mentally challenging. But in 2020, the stresses of COVID-19 and back-to-back hurricanes caught up with Cormier. He knew he needed help. His personal journey back to health and wellness prompted Cormier to start the non-profit, With You, last year. “This organization provides first responders access to holistic mental health treatments which allow them to be the best version of themselves, enabling them to provide the best service to our community,” he says. “Through my personal struggles, I discovered I need to take care of myself mentally, physically, and spiritually, or I am useless to my family and community.” 

Military personnel are trained to maintain the mindset that the mission comes first. “You give one hundred percent all the time. No days off, no stopping . . . do what needs to be done,” Cormier says. “The need for hypervigilance is a challenge. Our natural senses are heightened to observe our surroundings and watch for danger in order to survive high-risk situations. It’s a great thing when we need it! But there’s a downfall. The chemicals released by stress that prepare us for worst-case scenarios also cause physical damage to our bodies.”   

Cormier says that during the events of 2020, he was one of the ‘go-to’ guys and helped wherever needed. But by November, he was beyond exhaustion and experiencing stress-related issues. “I broke physically. I was an empty cup trying to pour into others’ lives and I was failing as a husband, father, friend, and employee. I was too tired to keep trying to ‘figure it out’ on my own. So I asked for help. Fortunately for me, my family and friends were honest and told me I was allowing the stress of my job kill me. They encouraged me to seek mental and physical therapies.” 

Cormier began seeing a licensed clinical social worker and through what he describes as “some very awkward quiet moments” he realized he lacked peace, and his body was paying a physical price. “I started physical therapy to address how stress manifests itself physically. Since 2020, mental and physical therapies have become a mainstay in my life and something I advocate for my peers.”  

Cormier learned that what he needed most during that time was someone to tell him that what he was feeling was normal, given his experiences. That he was not broken, and he didn’t need to be the “hero” all the time, and it’s okay to rest and recover without feeling guilty. Too often, first responders are told that the stress and the physical and mental toll it takes is “part of the job” and “it is what it is”, or “it could be worse”. Cormier realized through his own struggles that there are limited local mental health resources, AND there is a huge and unfortunate stigma for first responders who seek mental health. “After my experience, I refuse to let that stigma stand.” 

Cormier says he was fortunate that he found the help he needed, but he saw many of his colleagues floundering with the same debilitating stress. This reality prompted him to start With You. Their goal is to help first responders receive the help they need, either directly through With You or through other resources. “We approach mental health from different avenues. We’ll use hobbies and passions to help first responders connect with who they are. Healing can happen anywhere: in a hunting blind, a camping trip, over a cup of coffee, helping through volunteerism, or working side by side.” 

First responders are only human, adds Cormier. “They’re not immune to emotions and limitations. They face constant intense pressure to perform flawlessly in high-stress situations. Over time, that pressure leads to burnout, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. Destigmatizing mental health issues for first responders and promoting a culture of self-care and mutual support are critical steps to address our first responders’ mental health.” 

For more information, visit withyouswla.org, write to withyouswla@gmail.com, and find With You on Facebook..