Firefighter suicide: We must do better

I posted the following on my LinkedIn Feed and obviously "struck a nerve" with many readers because as I write this piece, my original post has 1,700 impressions and 34 reactions (Sadly, however, it's only been reposted once). So, I decided to turn it into an article in the hopes of reaching even more readers because unfortunately I believe that what happened in this case is still happening to many firefighters and officers in too many fire departments.

This is why I'm so passionate about the work we do at the Fire Service Psychology Association- Admin where fire service leaders, psychologists, and masters-level clinicians are working to "bridge the gap between professional psychology and the fire service. The following is from a post by a fellow firefighter with a big city fire department. I've done some editing to remove identifiers. So here goes:

This last [firefighter death in my department] brings lots of feelings up for me. I can't stop thinking about how my friend asked to be put off duty. "I can't see one more dead kid," he said in front of fire department heads and with union by his side. He and his crew recently had a car wreck that no one could gain entrance and they watched civilians burn up and died. One was a child.

He asked to be put off stress and they [department heads] said NO. He would have to use his own sick time "to get his shit together." A [military vet] and 20 years [on the job here]. He struggled. I even grabbed him for some days to let his family catch a breath and see what I and his friends could do.

I drove him to the airport to go to IAFF Center of Excellence, what he called "sad camp". He left [there] early, came home and killed himself not long after. The man said what he said. They failed him. And I KNOW u can't stop a train, but I still can't believe they didn't do more. There has to be more they can do. I know I did more and don't regret a thing.

I'm back for a comment. How can this still be happening in 2024? These are the comments that have be left on the original post as I write this.

How can this happen in 2024? Remember, we still can’t get all of us [firefighters and officers] to wear seatbelts [on fire apparatus and ambulances]. Our disfunction is an addiction that injures and kills us. We [the fire service] needs tough love intervention to put us in 28-day detox.

I appreciate this post. As a friend and a Chief, I have experienced the impacts of suicide and MURDER. From day one, I believe we need to be honest about the physical and emotional impacts these jobs can have. Lets be honest!

We tote “brotHERhood,” and running into burning building, only to learn we are are managing low priority calls, and the madness of the world. Lately, I am seeing more fires inside the fire stations creating psychological impacts leading to number of personal and organizational difficulties. Including suicide! Workplace safety includes protection from harassment, bullying, and disrespect.

It’s so frustrating. I’ve noticed in the fire service we often say one thing (mental health matters, I’m here for you) and do the opposite (get your shit together yourself). There’s so much apathy, which is its own problem.

Dr. Burton A. Clark has the answer written in his [book] title. = American Fire Culture. Unfortunately, we are groomed from Day 1 to “suck it up.” So much change still needed.

I couldn't do the block quote on this one.

Every year I walked in the Out of the Darkness Walk in full turnout gear to raise awareness of this matter. I didn't have a personal connection to suicide other than my own personal struggles. But I walked.

As years went on the list of names, the people I worked with, the students I taught, the friends and their spouses, it became unbelievable how many people had succumbed to suicide around me.

Employers need to take some responsibility here. From training and developing better leaders, to providing more direct care and preventative support to their workforce.

The time to change has passed, we must react to what we are seeing and know to be true.