ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Petersburg College has launched a new program to help first responders face mental health issues.

Police Benevolent Association President Jonathan Vazquez, an officer of 15 years and an Army veteran, knows what it’s like to lose a friend. He has dedicated his office wall to officers lost since 2011.

“Throughout my military career, I lost several friends to suicide,” said Vazquez. He hopes to honor those lost by helping others get help.


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“The biggest issues I’ve noticed are that officers are not comfortable speaking to people who really don’t know the profession,” Vazquez said.

The K-9 officer helped create a new program being offered at St. Petersburg College.

The Applied Mental Health Advanced Technical Certificate is under a bachelor’s degree in “Social and Behavioral Sciences and Human Services.”

“It’s hard for me to explain to somebody who hasn’t seen what I’ve seen or smelled what I smelled and encounter on a daily basis,” he said. “It’s hard for an officer to open up to that person.”

Dr. Latresha Moore is the Human Services Program director at the college. She says the curriculum includes peer groups, people who have seen and heard such things.

“These courses will equip them with the necessary tools regarding that mental health literacy and raising awareness,” said Moore. “The coping strategies, the trauma strategies, the wrap-around support.”

Moore said the program also prepares students for continued work in human services, counseling, psychology, addiction studies and social work. And it provides additional support to those already on the front lines.

“They’re more equipped to handle more mental health issues and challenges they face in their families, in their communities, in our societies,” Moore said.

Vazquez recognizes the benefits, which he says can lead to more police officers with healthy mindsets on our streets.

“Now they have a better understanding and a better way to deal with officers, their brothers, their sisters in uniform on opening up, being able to open up and talk to them and then being guided to the proper services after that,” said Vazquez.

Support from a new program putting the mental health of first responders first.

Fall term registration is now open.

From SPC:

The Applied Mental Health Certificate will provide retired officers, current officers, and others the curricular experience to pursue careers in mental health counseling, psychology, and allied human services. Students who complete the 18-credit applied mental health certificate will enhance their ability to: (i) apply the principles and practices they learned regarding mental health and communication to their day-to-day work; (ii) partner with community mental health liaisons and partners; (iii) more effectively serve in mental-health heavy units (such as units designed to assist the homeless); (iv) utilize psychological/psychopathological concepts to identify mental health issues in need of appropriate intervention and referrals in the populations they police; and (v) communicate more effectively with colleagues and community members who may be facing a mental health emergency. 

Anyone interested in participating in the course should contact Dr. Latresha Moore at bighemmoore.latresha@spcollege.edu or 727-497-5015.