Taking Care of Those Who Take Care of Others

It seems my whole life has prepared me for the path I am on. As an adult child of an alcoholic (ACOA), I believe my life experiences motivated me to study psychology in college and then become a certified alcohol and drug counselor (CADC), both to help myself and to help other individuals and families who’ve struggled with addiction and mental health issues. My goal simply has been to help those who want assistance to have a better quality of life personally, professionally, and with their families.

The Rosecrance Florian Program serves firefighters, paramedics, and other fire service members, offering the best opportunity for lasting recovery for co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders by incorporating occupational factors into the treatment process. (Photo by Ethan Loomis.)

The Rosecrance Florian Program serves firefighters, paramedics, and other fire service members, offering the best opportunity for lasting recovery for co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders by incorporating occupational factors into the treatment process. (Photo by Ethan Loomis.)

I graduated with a bachelor’s degree of arts in psychology in 1986. Following my graduation, my career in the field of psychology began that same year at a private psychiatric treatment facility in Illinois. I began as a unit staff and worked my way up to a unit coordinator and then to a primary counselor. At the same time, I knew I also wanted to be in a first responder profession and pursued both law enforcement and firefighting careers. I took entrance exams for the FBI, the Illinois State Police, the Chicago (IL) Fire Department (CFD), and several other fire departments in Illinois. The call I received was from the CFD, and I began my firefighting career in 1989. Despite not knowing anyone or having any family in the fire service, I had a rush of excitement and anticipation at the prospect of this job. I continued working in the field of psychology while developing my skills as a firefighter, all the while thinking about how I could join my two passions to help my brothers and sisters who may need counseling or assistance with struggles in their lives.

Expanding Attention

In 2001, I joined the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 employee assistance program (EAP), which was comprised of two staff, a director and a counselor. Prior to my joining Local 2’s EAP, it focused primarily on aiding members with alcohol and drug use/abuse issues. It concerned me that little attention was given to the broader range of mental health and family issues our members struggled with as well. These types of unaddressed problems can lead to further maladaptive behaviors that can affect one’s quality of life both personally and professionally.

In 2002, I became Local 2’s third EAP director and worked to expand the focus of concerns the program addressed. These concerns included the issues stated above as well as the concerns of the stigma associated with seeking help, access to our services, confidentiality when seeking assistance, and finding appropriate resources.

In 2007, within the CFD, we experienced a very troubling statistic of seven suicides within an 18-month period. I decided to act beyond what my staff and I were doing. I contacted several key fire department officials and initiated a joint effort between the city and the union to provide our entire membership with a day focused on education, awareness, and resources regarding behavioral health issues our members may be facing presently or in the future. I also began to research the topic of suicide as it pertains to the fire service and found minimal information available. So, I gathered statistics from within the CFD over a 20-year period and wrote a report, one of the first of its kind, on suicide in the fire service. The article was intended to offer some insight into historical views regarding suicide, statistics from the CFD, and potential warning signs and share how much more work needed to be done to address this tragic issue facing our nation and particular occupational populations that appear more susceptible.

Florian is housed in a designated coed unit at the Rosecrance Harrison Campus in Rockford, Illinois, which offers a full continuum of residential and outpatient services. (Photo by Brian Thomas Photography.)

Florian is housed in a designated coed unit at the Rosecrance Harrison Campus in Rockford, Illinois, which offers a full continuum of residential and outpatient services. (Photo by Brian Thomas Photography.)

A New Program

Despite our advancements and increase in member’s assistance within the Union’s EAP, I was still looking for a way to be more proactive for those struggling with alcohol and drug use issues. I also wanted to find ways to treat not only the presenting diagnosis but the underlying co-occurring issues contributing to or exacerbating it. I wanted to incorporate education, physical health awareness, alternative coping skills, and peer support to help first responders with the daily struggle of relapse by providing knowledge and options. I reached out to several treatment facilities that I had relationships with throughout my years in the field. Rosecrance Health Network was a facility in Rockford (IL) with which I was familiar and connected with a reputation and care for clients that impressed me. Phil Eaton, CEO of Rosecrance, met with me and from the start supported the mission to assist first responders 100 percent. We began the design of the Florian Program.

While our profession is viewed as one comprised of strong men and women who dedicate themselves to the protection and safety of others, we too need help at times. Rosecrance was motivated to become an active participant as a network providing such support. The Rosecrance Florian program is housed in a designated coed unit at the Rosecrance Harrison campus, a modern adult facility that offers a full continuum of residential and outpatient services. The Florian program is a 30-day program specifically designed to address the complex biopsychosocial issues unique to the culture of uniformed services and military personnel.

To ensure the highest level of care, all Florian staff participate in regular cultural awareness training so they can better understand the physical and emotional nature of the fire service. (Photo by Ethan Loomis.)

To ensure the highest level of care, all Florian staff participate in regular cultural awareness training so they can better understand the physical and emotional nature of the fire service. (Photo by Ethan Loomis.)

Along with Rosecrance, Bobby Halton and FireRescue magazine are active in supporting the need to address addiction, mental health issues, recovery, and awareness of the same to the fire service community. With this column, they are providing me with an invaluable opportunity to reach countless individuals who have made their careers of coming to the aid of others. Future articles in this column will provide education, information, and resources on subject matters relevant to our mental health and well-being within our firefighting profession and our personal lives. It will offer thoughts and insights into topics that, historically in the fire service, we have shied away from. Our safety and well-being lies not only in job task performance training but in our awareness and openness to addressing our mental health and overall prosperity.

I am always available to speak with anyone who would like more information on the Florian Program or assistance on a personal level. If you or someone you know needs assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Note: The author can be contacted at ddegryse@rosecrance.org.

By Daniel DeGryse

Daniel DeGryse, BA, BS, CEAP, CADC, LAP/C, CAI, is a 28-year veteran of the fire service and is a battalion chief/EMT with the Chicago (IL) Fire Department, currently serving with Battalion 1, which covers the downtown Chicago area. As he began his firefighting career, he also worked in a private psychiatric hospital for six years, providing individual, group, and family therapy for adolescents and adults in the areas of addiction, mental health issues, and behavior management. DeGryse worked as the coordinator of the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2’s employee assistance program (EAP) for 14 years and started the Chicago Firefighters Union peer support program called “Gatekeepers.” He has been a member of the International Association of Firefighters Labor/EAP Committee since 2002. DeGryse created the Florian Program with Rosecrance Health Network and serves as the director of the program. He has been an advocate of awareness, education, and proper treatment for substance use disorders and co-occurring issues including but not limited to depression, anxiety, and PTSD. DeGryse speaks locally and nationally on these topics and has written numerous articles. He initiated local and regional trainings for fire and police departments and is one of the master instructors for the IAFF Peer Support Program. DeGryse also developed the Rosecrance Florian Symposium, a nationally recognized two-day training event for first responders and military personnel. He received the “Illinois Firefighter of the Year” award from the Illinois VFW in 2009. DeGryse has a bachelor’s degree in fire science management from Southern Illinois University as well as a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wabash College. He has advanced training in critical incident stress management and assist level training in suicide prevention.

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