The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, in collaboration with Stony Brook University and Texas A&M University, has received a $3.37 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to advance a large-scale clinical trial to improve the mental health and resilience of first responders. The five-year initiative will evaluate the Worker Resilience Training program, an intervention designed to strengthen stress management, support healthy lifestyle behaviors, and help prevent the onset or worsening of mental health conditions such as PTSD and depression.
The new award comes at a time when recent findings show that one in seven first responders experience probable PTSD as a result of routine duties, with prevalence increasing significantly after crisis events. The study will enroll 800 first responders in New York and Texas and compare outcomes between those who participate in the Worker Resilience Training program and those who participate in a time-matched control workshop.
The research team, led by Dr. Rebecca Schwartz of the Feinstein Institutes’ Institute of Behavioral Science, will examine multiple indicators of resilience, including stress management skills, physical activity, perceived resilience, and healthy lifestyle behaviors. A central focus of the study is whether the program can effectively prevent the development or progression of psychological symptoms and functional impairment following traumatic exposure.
This new trial builds on prior work conducted by Dr. Schwartz and Dr. Adam Gonzalez, whose earlier randomized clinical study with Hurricane Sandy responders showed promising results in preventing mental health symptoms and supporting adaptive coping. The expanded multi-site trial represents one of the largest efforts to date to evaluate a preventative mental health intervention for first responders.
Feinstein Institutes president and CEO Dr. Kevin J. Tracey said the project aligns with ongoing initiatives to advance scientific understanding of mental health and resilience within essential worker populations. The organization, part of Northwell Health, manages more than 3,000 clinical research studies and operates over 50 research labs across multiple scientific domains.
The institutions involved expect the findings to provide crucial evidence to support the large-scale deployment of preventive interventions nationwide. The research team noted the potential for measurable benefits not only for responders, but also for their families, workplaces, and broader communities.
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“First responders face a heightened risk for mental health conditions due to chronic exposure to trauma; COVID-19 demonstrated that firsthand. It’s our duty to support their well-being, especially their mental health. This NIMH grant allows us to rigorously test a preventative intervention that has the potential to significantly enhance resilience and reduce the burden of PTSD and depression in this critical population.”
Rebecca Schwartz, PhD, Associate Professor at the Feinstein Institutes’ Institute of Behavioral Science and Senior Director of Clinical Research with Northwell’s Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention
“The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the toll of chronic stress on first responders. Dr. Schwartz’s research provides scientific insights and new strategies to enhance mental well-being and resilience for essential workers.”
Kevin J. Tracey, MD, President and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes and Karches Family Distinguished Chair in Medical Research
