HERRIMAN — ‘On tap’ at a new local bar Monday: a live discussion about a topic the owner says doesn’t receive nearly enough attention.
First responder mental health will be in the spotlight at The Station Bar, 12283 Herriman Main St., during the business’s new monthly series dubbed “Real Talk, On the Rocks.”
Set to begin at 1 p.m. Monday, bar owner Bret Morley hopes the discussion will be a good opportunity to connect police, firefighters and nurses with the latest research and resources.
It’s a topic that is close to Morley’s heart, since he has worked for the past 23 years as a firefighter.
“Clearly over the last 23 years, I’ve been exposed to, seen, had to help, had to fix some really tragic situations that really assault your senses on every level and it’s impossible for that not to leave a mark on you,” Morley said during an interview with KSL TV on Sunday. “I’ve had some really dark times and had a hard time getting through life.”
Morley said he had also lost numerous colleagues during his career due to mental health struggles, and creating a space for first responders away from the stresses of the job was a significant motivation in opening The Station Bar in March.
“That’s really the reason we named it the Station Bar is because we wanted to be a place for first responders to feel comfortable and safe, as well as to be a part of the community in a relaxed setting,” Morley said. “You’re not going to see a fire pole or fire hydrants or fire department décor in here. It’s more of a place where everybody can feel normal.”
“Real Talk, On the Rocks” will feature a variety of different community topics month to month, Morley said.
Still, he hoped a discussion benefiting first responders and issues such as their mental health could become a quarterly event.
“It affects your life, it affects the way you feel about things, and it affects the way you act, if we don’t mitigate that and teach these people how to process that stuff,” Morley said.