09/02/2026
September is a month of remembrance, reflection, and looking out for one another.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. We remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day, the first responders who ran toward danger, and the countless families, survivors, and communities forever changed.
But the number of lives lost as a result of September 11 did not stop growing when that day ended.
Twenty-five years later, responders, recovery workers, survivors, and others exposed in the aftermath continue to lose their lives to cancers, respiratory illnesses, and other health conditions connected to their service and exposure. We must also recognize the mental health toll carried by those who responded, witnessed unimaginable loss, and lived through the days, months, and years that followed, including lives lost to su***de.
September is also Su***de Prevention Month.
For those of us in emergency services, that connection carries particular meaning. Behind every uniform is a person. First responders regularly experience some of life’s most difficult moments alongside the people we serve, and sometimes those experiences follow us long after the call is over.
Asking for help is not weakness. Checking in on a partner, coworker, friend, or family member can make a difference. Sometimes the strongest thing we can do is simply tell someone, “I’m not doing okay.”
This September, Ballston Lake EMS encourages everyone within public safety and throughout our community to take care of one another. Have the conversation. Check on your people. Listen when someone needs to talk. And when you need help yourself, reach out.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or considering su***de, call or text 988 to reach the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.
