When most of us go work today our physical and mental health won't be in danger. A paper cut might be the biggest challenge we face. That's not what the daily grind is like for firefighters, police officers, corrections officers and even the family of Jayme Biendl who will be remembered at a memorial service in Everett.

"We see a lot of stuff - police, fire, corrections, nurses especially ER and flight nurses - we all see the worst of the worst," says Officer Steve Redmond, with the Seattle Police Department's motorcycle unit.

While most people might be able to turn to their co-workers or boss to let them know they're having a hard time, Redmond says that's difficult for officers to do.

"You ask for help and the concern is, 'Yeah you can get help but give me your badge and your gun,'" says Redmond.

Redmond is among those involved with a 24-hour crisis line for police, firefighters, jail officers and their families. The Safe Call Now program is confidential, so a public service worker can get help without having to worry about having peers or bosses know about his or her private lives.

He's been with the Seattle Police Department for about 19 years. The scenes that stick with Redmond over the years involving kids. He's seen entire families killed in accidents. "That wears on you. You have to build this wall to kind of disconnect yourself," he says. "That's not very healthy.

A couple of years ago Seattle police and fire commanders noticed more of their employees were having problems with alcohol or prescription drug abuse.

"Every now and then we all get cracks in our armor and sometimes those cracks get so big because of what we deal with and it could be not just job stuff, it could be personally family and financial stuff that's putting a stress on you," he says. "Sometimes those cracks get so big that you just can't repair them yourself and you need a professional's help to get your life back."

The 24-hour crisis line for police, firefighters, jail officers and their families is (206) 459-3020.

Redmond says, they've had some success with it so far.

"We've placed over 114 individuals into treatment. Out of those 114 individuals, 112 still have their jobs," he says.

One person they were trying to help committed suicide, and the other overdosed and died. They've also referred over 1,400 people to other services such as financial advise or marriage counseling.

Hear an eight-minute discussion about the 24-hour crisis line for officers on my latest podcast here.

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