Saving Those Who Save Others

“Congratulations. Welcome to the department.” These are words we all recall after being sworn in to either the fire service or the emergency medical services (EMS). Now it’s off to the fire academy to expand our minds, train our muscles, and learn about the behaviors of smoke and fire. That first day is a whirlwind of knowledge as the instructors explain the state courses that every candidate must pass, one of which includes both written and practical challenges if you intend to become a firefighter, either career of volunteer.

As the days turn into weeks, every candidate listens and learns with great intent about fire attack, hoseline advancement, color of smoke, search and rescue, and the list goes on and on. Finally, graduation day! Each member passes and then is assigned to a shift or is ready to dedicate their life for their community. They are finely trained firefighters who, although inexperienced, have proven they are ready based on completing the fire academy curriculum. Yet, are they fully trained?

If the academy included behavioral health training then the graduate could be fully trained. Unfortunately, a high percentage of fire academies do not offer this type of training. An awareness of addictions, depression, anxiety, stress, post-traumatic stress, and suicide prevention should be included in every academy across the United States. Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA) firmly believes behavioral health awareness is a necessity in fire academies, in officer classes, and for firefighters/EMS personnel within every organization.

Behavioral Health Education

What is FBHA? We are a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that was formed in 2011 and the only known organization that collects and validates firefighter/EMT suicides. FBHA has traveled across the United States and Canada talking about these very difficult and tragic events. It is our firm belief that no firefighter or EMT wakes up one morning and says, “I need to go shopping, have the car worked on, and take my own life.” We believe there is a progression that has led up to the decision to end a life. Family, coworkers, or senior officers might have missed a trail of clues or behaviors. Even firefighters could have helped themselves if it wasn’t for what FBHA believes is cultural brainwashing.

What is cultural brainwashing? If you are in the fire or EMS service, start thinking about what this term might mean. FBHA believes cultural brainwashing has a major effect on our behaviors as firefighters and EMS personnel–behaviors that are taught early in careers in fire training academies and EMT courses. We put a uniform on and now we must conform to behaviors that the communities, our brothers and sisters, and even history expects us to have. Be strong! Be brave! Perform under treacherous conditions! Don’t ask for help because that shows weakness! Go it alone on those personal issues! Welcome to cultural brainwashing.

Another aspect of our job involves Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). Yes, as a licensed counselor, I know there are major hurdles between counselors and firefighters. These counselors are good people; however, many lack the fire education and training necessary to work with us. As firefighters and EMTs, we are a little different–but that’s not a bad thing! FBHA has several recommendations on how to improve this relationship. These recommendations have been put to use by several fire departments and have led to a great start for these proactive departments. They include ride-alongs, training, meet and greets, and becoming involved in the EAP selection process for your organization.

I began my career as a volunteer firefighter for Rutland-Dundee (IL) Fire Protection Distract and still believe to this day that volunteer and rural area organizations face more challenges of securing behavioral health counseling because of logistics. There just might not be enough counselors or chaplains available for them.

Retirement Preparation

Another major area we assist with is retirement. Ask yourself, am I fully prepared to face that final day? What might be the thought process? For most, there will be financial questions if you are a career firefighter/EMT. Will I have a pension that will cover the lifestyle I would like? What will be my insurance costs? Yet the question we should be asking ourselves, both career and volunteer, is, “Am I emotionally prepared for the separation from my fire or EMS organization?”

FBHA has been working diligently on this issue and has several recommendations for both the fire service and its retiring members. FBHA tracks not only active firefighters/EMT suicides but those of retirees as well. The stories of numerous members who have taken their lives just days after retirement are plentiful. These were good people who might have only idenitified themselves as firefighters, and once that was gone they lost who they were and what they could do with their lives. FBHA has met numerous firefighters who tell this exact story of their retirement. It is an issue we need to become proactive on.

FBHA Support

The intent of this article was to open your eyes to what FBHA is and our mission for fire and emergency services. FBHA has a confidential reporting system on our Web site at www.ffbha.org. We never use personal or organizational names unless given permission. On the confidential report we do ask for the department name because we have to validate any reports that we receive. FBHA has spoken with almost 400 fire chiefs to verify reports. We track these tragic events because we need to understand why good people are dying, just as we do for our line-of-duty deaths. In addition to understanding, and more importantly, we do not want to forget our brothers and sisters who took their own lives.

Firefighter suicide is not the easiest fire service issue to hear about, but FBHA believes it should be one of the most important.

Find out more about FBHA at www.fbha.org.

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