Demand for FDNY Mental Health Services Surges Across New York Region
As demand for firefighter mental health services continues to surge, Friends of Firefighters, a New York City-based nonprofit providing free, confidential mental health and wellness services to active and retired members of the Fire Department of New York and their families across New York City and the surrounding region, will participate in the 20th annual Commissions for Charity Day hosted by BTIG on May 6, 2026.
The national philanthropic initiative brings together institutional trading clients, employees and public figures across BTIG’s global offices, with a portion of trading profits donated to nonprofit organizations. Since its inception, the event has generated more than $60 million for charitable causes worldwide.
Actor and former New York City firefighter Steve Buscemi, a longtime supporter and advisory council member of Friends of Firefighters, will participate in this year’s event on behalf of the organization. Buscemi, who served with the FDNY earlier in his career and again after September 11, has been a consistent advocate for the organization and its mission to support the mental health and well-being of firefighters and their families.
“This work is deeply personal to me,” Buscemi said. “Firefighters are trained to push through and keep going, but that doesn’t mean the impact of the job disappears. Friends of Firefighters understands that culture and the peer support they provide helps people take that first step toward getting the help they need and deserve.”
Friends of Firefighters’ participation in the BTIG event comes at a critical moment. Demand for its services has increased more than 300 percent in recent years, creating a growing waitlist for counseling and peer support as firefighters seek help for the cumulative effects of repeated exposure to trauma. More than 11,000 active FDNY firefighters respond to emergencies across New York City each day, often facing repeated exposure to trauma, while tens of thousands of retirees continue to grapple with the long-term effects of what they experienced on the job.
Friends of Firefighters provides services across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and to those FDNY members and retirees residing in Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Dutchess, Nassau and Suffolk counties, reflecting the geographic footprint of the FDNY workforce.
“For more than two decades, Friends of Firefighters has served as a trusted, confidential lifeline for members of the FDNY,” said Nancy Carbone, executive director of Friends of Firefighters. “As the need continues to grow, partnerships like this help us expand access to care and ensure firefighters and their families are not navigating trauma alone.”
Founded by Carbone in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks, Friends of Firefighters has evolved into a leading provider of culturally competent mental health services tailored to the fire service. Its model combines peer support with clinical care, recognizing that firefighters are often more likely to seek help through trusted colleagues before engaging in formal treatment.
Friends of Firefighters recently launched the Aaron Clark Peer Support Team, a program named in honor of FDNY firefighter Aaron Clark, whose legacy continues to shape the organization’s commitment to peer-driven care. Developed in close partnership with his widow, Sarah, the initiative expands Friends of Firefighters’ ability to deploy trained firefighters into firehouses and communities to connect members with support in a trusted, culturally competent way.
The program builds on a model that has proven to be a critical entry point to clinical care, helping reduce stigma and ensuring firefighters can access services earlier. Federal funding secured with the support of U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer is enabling the initial expansion of this work, strengthening outreach and increasing access to peer support for firefighters and their families across New York City.
Firefighters responding to emergencies across New York City experience repeated, cumulative trauma. Friends of Firefighters’ programs equip members with tools to manage stress, improve resilience and sustain long-term well-being. Those benefits extend beyond the firehouse. Firefighters trained in trauma-informed communication and crisis response carry those skills into their daily interactions with the public, strengthening outcomes in the communities they serve.
“For firefighters, asking for help is often the hardest step, which is why peer support is so critical,” said Chrissy Neafsey, associate director of Friends of Firefighters. “When that first conversation happens with someone who has lived the same experience, it builds trust and opens the door to deeper care. What we’ve seen is that the skills firefighters gain through peer support and counseling don’t stay in the firehouse. They carry those tools into the communities they serve every day, , as well as home to their families, expanding the impact of this work far beyond the individual.”
Funds raised through BTIG’s Commissions for Charity Day will support the expansion of Friends of Firefighters’ peer support, clinical counseling services and outreach efforts, helping the organization meet rising demand and broaden access to care across New York City.
A short video illustrating the impact of Friends of Firefighters. Is available here. For more information about Friends of Firefighters, visit www.friendsoffirefighters.org.
