Lieutenant Drew Masters of the Fort Lauderdale Fire Department joins the conversation to examine the psychological toll of first responder work and the systems designed to support it. Drawing from years of leadership in peer support and critical incident stress management, he outlines how departments respond to high-impact events—from pediatric fatalities to large-scale disasters—and why early intervention and follow-up are essential to long-term mental health.

The discussion moves beyond protocol into lived experience. Masters describes the cumulative impact of trauma exposure, the normalization of suppressing distress, and how compassion fatigue can develop even in those responsible for supporting others. He recounts a period marked by personal loss, professional strain, and emotional deterioration that ultimately led him to seek help—hig ...