Protecting the mental health of the WHP

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon has made it clear he puts mental health at the top of his list regarding the Cowboy States priorities.

Recently Gordon hosted his second Mental Health Summit in Capser. Members of the legislative and judicial branches were in attendance as the summit attempted to tackle an ongoing problem of what the state government can do to help the issue. 

The job of first responders and law enforcement can be stressful and after a traumatic event or over long periods of time, members of those professions can and often do begin to feel the emotional weight.

While appearing on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse program, Wyoming Highway Patrol Lieutenant Erik Jorgenson spoke on the Wyoming Employee Assistance Program (WyEAP).

Jorgenson said when he was a rookie serving in the Rock Springs area, the thought of speaking to a mental health professional was something he and his colleagues wouldn’t have considered. But the stigma against mental health has cost too many lives and he is relieved that WyEAP is there when those who need someone to talk can find it. 

WyEAP was founded by psychologist Dr. Jerry Post in 2013, with the intention to serve the mental health needs of Wyoming’s first responders and other public employees. According to their website, Dr. Post retired from clinical practice in 2020 after 22 years as a police psychologist in Wyoming but continues to manage the network.