A first-of-its-kind police-run mental health program in New York is now offering support to U.S. veterans struggling with trauma, starting this Veterans Day.
PTP — short for Post Tour Processing — launched in 2023 to help police, fire, and ambulance personnel deal with the mental toll of the job. As of November 11, the peer-support network will now serve all veterans statewide, including those transitioning from military service into civilian life or law enforcement.
Run by active and retired officers, PTP operates directly after a responder’s shift and sometimes during. It offers a confidential space to talk through traumatic experiences with trained peers who’ve lived it too. The program has already been used by about 80 departments nationwide, including the NYPD DEA, which offers it to 18,000 active and retired members.
“Many veterans come home still carrying trauma from service,” said Dr. Jean Cirillo, a New York-based psychologist with the group. “We want them to know they’re not alone. There’s support from people who get it.”…