Spot The Signs
Not All Wounds Are Visabile
Spot the Signs was founded in 2018 by Keven McNeill following his diagnosis of PTSD in 2016 after a violent assault during a traffic stop. What began as one individual sharing hard truths, and personal lessons learned through lived experience with Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) quickly evolved into a movement dedicated to proactive awareness, education, and peer support for first responders and veterans.
In the spring of 2025, alongside the launch of QCPS, Spot the Signs expanded into a collaborative team of presenters. Today, experienced speakers work together to bring impactful training and conversations to departments, agencies, and communities wherever they are needed.
The mission of Spot the Signs is to bring proactive mental health awareness to first responders and military veterans through honest conversation, practical education, and lived experiences with PTSI. By combining real-world perspective with evidence-informed training, we help individuals recognize early warning signs of PTSI, depression, burnout, and cumulative stress before they become crises.
First responders and military veterans are trained to recognize danger in others — but not always in themselves. Spot the Signs teaches individuals and organizations how to identify physical, emotional, and behavioral changes that may signal a peer is struggling. Our goal is to reduce stigma, encourage early intervention, and help build a culture where asking for help is seen as strength, not weakness.
Speakers
Keven McNeill
An active first responder with more than 28 years on the front lines, Keven has faced countless life - and death moments while silently carrying the weight of unresolved childhood trauma. What ultimately became his breaking point also became a turning point - transforming pain into purpose, and launching his work as a speaker and outspoken advocate for mental health, and suicide prevention in the first responder community.
Katelyn Gardiner
An active first responder, and peer support specialist with the Quiet Corner Peer Support Group. Katelyn channels her own experiences with trauma to guide fellow responders through the darkness, and toward hope. She plans to continue down the mental health side of life, dedicated to helping support first responders, and military veterans.
Greg Desmarais
A former fire department chief with 24 years of volunteer service. He also brings seven years as a career firefighter in Southeastern Connecticut. Diagnosed with PTS in September 2024, he now channels his experience into supporting fellow first responders, and advocating for mental health awareness in the fire service.
Joel Niemann
Serving as a Veterans Service Coordinator for the Connecticut State Community College system. Following 9/11, he enlisted in the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, and was deployed to Pakistan, conducting patrols in remote mountain regions in search of Taliban forces. After three years of active-duty infantry service, he continued his commitment in the Connecticut National Guard as a Military Police officer. His combat experience led to post-traumatic stress, and after transitioning out of the military, he recognized the need for stronger support systems to help veterans return to civilian life - fueling his passion for the work he does today.
Communities We've Reached
Making an impact across the region
Standing beside those who stand first, because every peer, every leader, every department, deserves support.
“I actually connected instead of being talked at...the candidness about mental health was exactly what I needed” — Linda K.
Dayville Fire Company (CT)
Burlington High School (CT)
Eastern Connecticut Fire School (CT)
Alburgh Fire Department (VT)
Brookline Fire Department (NH)
Saint Joesph University (CT)
Hartford University (CT)
Goodwin University (CT)
Connecticut State Community College, QVCC (CT)