Iowa City, Iowa (RI) — Several hundred firefighters, law-enforcement officers, EMS crews, and other first responders from all across the nation will gather in Iowa City later this week for a conference designed to reduce stress and burnout.
Dan Clay, dean of the University of Iowa’s College of Education, says the four-day event is called the 2026 Mental Wellness Symposium, hosted by the UI and the First Responder Center for Excellence.
Clay says the goal is to help emergency workers use evidence-based strategies to navigate the challenges of their jobs and protect their long-term well-being.
Clay says first responders often identify themselves as helpers and may think helpers shouldn’t need help — a mindset he calls a common mistake.
First responders identify themselves as helpers, and sometimes they think helpers shouldn’t need to seek help for themselves to cope, which Clay says is a common mistake.
The conference will run May 31st through June 3rd at the UI’s Iowa Memorial Union.
KIWA Staff Photo
