Trust is earned.
So is the support behind it.
The people who hold the line every day deserve more than good intentions behind theirs.
Holding the Line builds individualized mental health infrastructure for public safety agencies and coordinates prioritized access to our Oregon First Responder Therapy Network, a group of local clinicians who work with first responders and are among the most reputable providers in their communities.
Mental health infrastructure,
built around your agency.
Holding the Line helps Oregon public safety agencies build practical, reliable mental health systems tailored to their personnel, culture, operational demands, and resources.
Our mission is to make it easier for first responders to access trusted mental health support quickly, confidentially, and without unnecessary barriers. We do this by coordinating access to local clinicians who understand public safety work and by helping agencies build systems that are structured, responsive, and realistic for their people.
We start by assessing and strengthening the supports already in place, identifying the real gaps, and designing individualized programs to close them. No two departments are the same, and we do not build them that way.
Clinical care is provided through the Oregon First Responder Therapy Network, a coordinated group of trusted Oregon clinicians who specialize in working with first responders. Holding the Line built and manages the network, coordinates referrals, and gives agencies prioritized access to highly competent clinicians who commit to clear response timelines. When your people need care, we connect them to the right provider quickly instead of leaving them to search for availability on their own.
Two programs anchor the work.
The assessment shapes both.
These are the two programs Holding the Line was built on, but neither is required. The assessment determines whether either program is the right fit for your agency and, if so, how it should be scaled, adapted, or reinforced based on your agency’s size, culture, budget, and identified gaps.
Post-Critical Incident
Mental Health Support
When an agency-defined critical incident occurs, a supervisor or other designated referrer submits a secure online referral to Holding the Line. From that point, HTL manages the process. The clinician network is activated, availability is confirmed, and each impacted individual is offered access to a licensed, first responder-competent clinician. Confidential. Outside the chain of command. No coordination required from agency leadership beyond submitting the referral.
- Clinician availability confirmed within one business day from referral
- Appointments offered to impacted personnel within one week of referral
- Up to 2 individual, confidential post-incident sessions per involved member
- Scheduled follow-up outreach approximately two months post-incident, or per agency agreement
Participation is voluntary unless mandated by agency policy or state law.
Oregon First Responder
Therapy Network
Confidential, year-round therapy access for all eligible personnel. Personnel select a clinician from our trusted network and request an appointment directly through the agency's secure HTL access link or app. The clinician contacts the individual to schedule.
- 6–12 confidential sessions per contract year
- No pre-authorization. No agency notification. No reason required.
- Personnel choose a clinician and request an appointment directly through the agency's secure HTL access link or app.
- Oregon-licensed, private practice clinicians who operate independently and understand first responders and the realities of the job
- Remote and in-person sessions available, depending on clinician and location
- Prioritized scheduling
When post-incident support indicates that ongoing care would be helpful, the transition from Pathway 1 into Pathway 2 is seamless. Same network. Same confidentiality. No new intake. No gap in access or care.
Most programs include an agency-personalized, confidential Holding The Line app.
Where included in the agency agreement, the app gives personnel 24/7 access to agency-specific mental health and support resources, along with a secure way to request an appointment with a therapist they select from the Oregon First Responder Therapy Network. Depending on the agency’s HTL agreement, personnel may also submit other personalized support service requests through the app.
Where peer support leaves off,
clinical care picks up.
Defined Activation and Response Timelines
One referral. Defined timelines. No improvising under pressure.
After a critical incident, a supervisor or other designated referrer submits a secure referral. Holding the Line handles the coordination from there. Clinician availability is confirmed within one business day, appointments are offered to impacted individuals within one week, and follow-up contact occurs within two months. These timelines are built into the service model so agencies know what happens next.
Direct, Confidential Access
Personnel choose their clinician. The agency is never in the loop.
Personnel use a secure HTL app or link to review clinician credentials, select a provider, and request an appointment directly. The clinician schedules with the individual from there. Clinical information is never shared with HTL or the agency. No names. No clinical content. No exceptions.
Clinicians Trusted for This Work
Demonstrated competence, not just self-reported familiarity.
Every clinician was carefully selected for their clinical skills, professional experience and reputation, and ability to work effectively with law enforcement, fire, EMS, dispatch, and corrections.
Standing Infrastructure
Already built. Ready when you need it.
The clinician network, the activation protocols, and the technology are already in place before you need them. When an incident occurs, you activate a system that already exists. You do not improvise one under pressure. Leadership stays focused on the incident. HTL handles the clinical response.
"The people who protect the public deserve a standard of care as disciplined, responsive, and competent as they are expected to be themselves."
More firefighters and law enforcement officers die by suicide than in the line of duty.
These aren't abstract numbers.
They're people already on your roster. HTL was built to reach them before the worst day forces the conversation.