Indy Standard

The governor has ceremonially signed a new law introduced by State Representative Wendy McNamara aimed at safeguarding mental health debriefings for first responders. The legislation, known as House Enrolled Act 1118, amends the Indiana code to ensure that conversations during critical incident stress management (CISM) debriefings cannot be disclosed in civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings.

McNamara emphasized the importance of CISM debriefings as a mental health resource for public safety officials who encounter stressful or dangerous situations in their line of work. "Our police, firefighters, EMS providers and other first responders face danger day in and day out," she stated. "By protecting these mental health discussions, our first responders will be more empowered to care for themselves."

According to the Ruderman Family Foundation, first responders experience PTSD and depression at rates five times higher than those of the general population. To address this issue, Indiana has established over 40 CISM teams composed of trained peer volunteers who provide immediate care at incident scenes or offer counseling afterward.

McNamara noted that the legal protection provided by this change might encourage more first responders to participate in CISM debriefings without fear of having to disclose private information.

Further details about House Enrolled Act 1118 and other new laws can be found on the Indiana General Assembly's website at iga.in.gov.

State Representative Wendy McNamara represents House District 76, which includes all of Posey County and part of Vanderburgh County. A photo accompanying this announcement shows Rep. McNamara with Governor Braun at the Statehouse during the ceremonial signing on June 25, 2025.