VIDEO: For those who answer the call, mental health often takes a back seat to the job. That’s why a Southwest Louisiana nonprofit called “With You SWLA” is working to change that.
Founded in 2023 by first responders, With You was created to provide a safe, stigma-free space for those who serve. Through peer support, counseling referrals, and crisis response, the organization connects first responders and their families with professional help when they need it most.
Ryan Arnold, a local first responder, said joining the program gave him an outlet he didn’t know existed. “I got involved with them because I needed help,” Arnold said. “I didn’t feel comfortable speaking with somebody who hasn’t been through what I’ve been through.” The group’s founder, Allen Cormier, said that exact challenge, the stigma surrounding mental health, was what inspired him and others to act. “Each of us had our own story about how, when we needed to seek out help, we didn’t know where to start,” Cormier said. Since launching, With You has partnered with Unity Psychiatry, hosted community events like the annual Standing With You Banquet and Pickleball Tournament, and reached hundreds of cadets through educational sessions at the Regional Law-Enforcement Training Academy.
Their mission is simple but powerful: “Standing beside those who stand for us.” From education and outreach to direct peer support, With You SWLA continues to build a culture where asking for help is seen as a sign of strength, not weakness.