Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey to tour Guilford County behavioral health center Center can help first responders cope; visits to fire stations also planned

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey will tour a behavioral health center under construction that could help firefighters and first responders cope with stress related to their occupation during a visit to Guilford County on Thursday, Aug. 13.

Commissioner Causey will also visit commercial buildings where developers worked with the Engineering Division of the Office of State Fire Marshal to make sure they complied with building and safety codes.

During the afternoon, Commissioner Causey, who is also the State Fire Marshal, will visit four Guilford County fire stations, including the volunteer fire department that serves his residence in the Alamance community of Guilford County.

The new behavioral health center in Greensboro would be available to help firefighters and other first responders with mental and emotional issues they encounter. Firefighters and first responders are susceptible to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression and suicide because of the trauma they witness as a part of their job.

“Mental health is an issue that needs to be addressed all across North Carolina, particularly with our fire departments,” Commissioner Causey said. “I’ve talked with a number of firefighters that have had some concerns about a lack of resources for mental health issues like PTSD, suicide prevention and that type of thing. This new behavioral health center promises to be a positive step toward filling that gap.”

The NCDOI Engineering Division worked closely with architects, engineers and the developer in making sure they met building codes and safety requirement.

Here is Commissioner Causey’s public schedule for the day:

8:30 a.m. – Behavioral Health Center

931 Third St., Greensboro, N.C.

10:00 a.m. – Marty Kotis Properties

Pig Pounder Brewery, 1107 Grecade St., Greensboro, N.C.

Red Cinemas, 1305 Battleground Ave., Greensboro, N.C.

Noon – Burger Warfare (lunch)

1209 Battleground Ave., Greensboro, N.C.

2:00 p.m. – Station 55, Fire District 13

4629 Hicone Road, Greensboro, N.C.

2:45 p.m. – Northeast Guilford Fire Department

7806 Jackson School Road, Browns Summit, N.C.

3:30 p.m. – McLeansville Fire Department

5326 Frieden Church Road, McLeansville, N.C.

4:15 p.m. – Alamance Community Fire Department

4108 Presbyterian Road, Greensboro, N.C.