Prince Harry showed his support for first responders, joining a peer support town hall in Santa Barbara County to encourage those on the front lines to speak openly about the mental toll of their work.
The Duke of Sussex spoke to dozens of officers gathered in Buellton, where law enforcement and first responders met to exchange ideas and discuss how to best care for colleagues facing the emotional strain of the job.
“The more people who come out and talk about this topic and share their own experiences, it gives everyone else permission to do it as well,” he said.
“You have a more resilient, stronger workforce. It’s that simple.”
The event was hosted with the support of ONE805, a Santa Claus nonprofit dedicated to improving the well-being of first responders through programs including confidential counseling and mental health resources.
Santa Maria Police Officer John Robles knows this struggle personally.
After more than a decade in law enforcement, he admitted the traditional approach was to suppress difficult emotions and continue working, even after losing a colleague to suicide.
Harry acknowledged that many first responders fear opening up because they fear it could jeopardize their careers or remove them from frontline duties.
“It’s a real concern,” he said. “The best thing about the peer support structure that’s been built here is that people know they can talk honestly, feel better afterward and still feel confident in their job security.”
The Duke also praised the progress made by police and fire leaders who have worked to reshape attitudes to mental health, saying meaningful change starts with leaders willing to challenge outdated ideas.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown also echoed that message.
