Staff report
New Mexico Gas Company (NMGC) has announced a $75,000 grant to support firefighter behavioral health through Mind.Body.Fire, a collaborative organization focused on providing mental health support to both active and retired firefighters.
The grant, funded through NMGC’s Helping Heroes program, will enable Mind.Body.Fire to offer multi-day preventative behavioral health retreats, as well as single- and half-day classes and mentoring. These initiatives aim to equip firefighters with stress reduction techniques, mindfulness practices, and resiliency strategies. The retreats will also create a supportive environment for participants to share experiences and build community.
“Due to chronic exposure to job-related traumatic events, most first responders are affected by post-traumatic stress and other career-related stressors,” said Carmen Martinez-Tittmann, a founding member of Mind.Body.Fire. “This award will help us provide preventative behavioral health support for firefighters to address mental health needs before problems arise.”
The $75,000 donation is part of a larger $370,000 awarded by NMGC’s Helping Heroes program, which supports volunteer and rural emergency first responders. In 2024, the program allocated $228,000 to volunteer first responder organizations.
“We recognize the vital role of volunteer first responders who dedicate their time and energy to protect our communities,” said New Mexico Gas Company President Ryan Shell.
The Helping Heroes program provides financial assistance for safety equipment, professional training, safety education, recruitment efforts, and behavioral health support. More information on eligibility and application procedures can be found online.