Fort Collins Wellness Center Offers Free Mental Health Treatment to Firefighters
Miramont Wellness Centers in Fort Collins is providing complimentary mental health treatments to firefighters through a new national initiative aimed at addressing the behavioral health crisis affecting first responders.
The Fort Collins-based center announced November 5 its partnership with BTL Industries' BTL Cares First Responder Initiative, offering local firefighters free access to EXOMIND™, an FDA-cleared transcranial magnetic stimulation device designed to treat major depressive disorder in adults.
"Firefighters are often the first to respond in emergency situations and show up when our community needs them most," said John Bender, founder and CEO of Miramont Wellness Centers. "We're honored to give back by offering treatments that help them feel strong, clear, and supported — inside and out."
Addressing a Critical Mental Health Gap
The initiative comes as first responders face documented mental health challenges at rates significantly higher than the general population. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, approximately 30 percent of first responders develop behavioral health conditions including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, compared to about 20 percent in the general population.
Recent Colorado data from the Colorado Firefighter Benefits Trust confirms up to 30 percent of firefighters experience behavioral health challenges, with about 15 percent developing PTSD. In 2024, the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance recorded at least 112 firefighter suicides nationwide, though actual numbers are likely underreported by as much as 40 percent.
Chronic fatigue and burnout remain persistent issues. A cross-sectional study of Colorado search and rescue personnel found 26 percent reporting some level of burnout, with 54 percent at risk, according to research published in emergency medical journals.
The initiative arrives as state-funded mental health resources face constraints. The Colorado Firefighter Benefits Trust Behavioral Health Program, which launched in 2022, was reduced from $10,000 annual coverage per firefighter to a $1,000 lifetime cap in July 2025 due to state budget cuts.
Treatment Technology and Access
EXOMIND™ received FDA clearance in January 2025 as a Class II transcranial magnetic stimulation system specifically indicated for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. The device applies non-invasive electromagnetic pulses to stimulate brain regions responsible for emotion regulation and cognitive function, according to BTL Industries documentation.
The technology is non-invasive, drug-free, and does not require surgery. Reported side effects are mild and primarily include transient headache and scalp discomfort.
Miramont Wellness Centers stated the treatments may help with emotional regulation, cognitive function, focus, brain fog, mood improvement, and symptoms of depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, FDA clearance for EXOMIND™ currently applies only to major depressive disorder treatment.
Firefighters interested in participating can contact Miramont Wellness Centers at 970-225-5005 or visit miramont.us for more information about the BTL Cares program.
Existing Support Resources
Northern Colorado fire departments currently offer mental health support through employee assistance programs and peer support initiatives. Nearly all Colorado fire departments report peer support access, with trained firefighter peers providing emotional support and facilitating clinical referrals.
Crisis services remain available countywide through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which provides 24-hour mental health and substance use support, suicide prevention, and crisis de-escalation.
The BTL Cares initiative supplements existing departmental programs by providing access to advanced brain stimulation technology that would typically require significant out-of-pocket payment.
Miramont Wellness Centers, founded by Bender, operates in Fort Collins and offers concierge care, hormone balancing, weight management, onsite medical imaging, laboratory services, and behavioral health therapy. The facility's affiliated MedSpa locations in Fort Collins and Parker provide additional wellness services.