Boise (670 KBOI News) – Idaho’s police, firefighters and paramedics would be able to access counseling services through Worker’s Compensation, if Governor Little signs Senate Bill 1028.

It cleared the House on a 59-10 vote Thursday.

House Minority Leader Mat Erpelding sponsored the bill in the House…he told his colleagues the things first responders deal with each day add up, and as a result, they have higher rates of divorce, drug and alcohol abuse, and worse.

“And the one that is the most telling is, more first responders have taken their own lives, than have died in the line of duty, in the last five years,” said Erpelding.  “Much of it is because the lack of access to viable psychological services and mental health care.”

As the law is now, first responders have to have a corresponding physical injury to get counseling services through Worker’s Comp…otherwise they have to pay for it out of their own pockets.