A recent bill signed by President Joe Biden is opening up a conversation about law enforcement officers, first responders, and mental health. The Confidentiality Opportunities for Peer Support Counseling Act encourages a focus on mental health and peer counseling programs, and confidentiality. It also directs the Department of Justice to create best practices guidelines. Mental health hasn’t always been at the forefront of conversation for law enforcement and other first responders. “I remember when I got into the fire department in 2003. It was kind of this mentality that you tough it out, you stay strong, and get through it,” said Ocean City Fire Department Public Information Officer Ryan Whittington. “We portray this super human aspect to young kids so that they want to grow up to be firefighters and protect our community. But at the same time, our hearts, our minds are no different.”