#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – Sounding The Alarm: #Firefighters Remain More Likely To Die By #Suicide Than On Duty

Nicole F. Roberts

Contributor

Firefighting is a brave and noble profession often associated with heroism. But #firefighters and researchers are sounding the alarm on the #mental and physical effects of the profession, warning that it comes with a severe cost – increased levels of occupational #stress that can lead to depression, burnout, #anxiety, #posttraumaticstressdisorder (#PTSD), and #suicidalideation. The National Fallen #Firefighters Foundation estimates that there are between 100 and 200 firefighter deaths by #suicide each year, double the rate of the general population.

#Firefighters, being #firstresponders, stand on the frontline of disasters and emergencies. The stress they bear comes at a critical cost to their well-being. Repeated exposure to traumatic scenes including car accidents, homicides, #suicides, infant drownings, and cardiac arrests – in addition to fires – can cause cumulative #stress overload and distress as a result of the scenes they attend. In addition to traumatic events, #firefighters may also suffer the effects of shift work (often 24 hours), long hours , physical and emotional exhaustion, #stigma associated with seeking help, and a culture of toughness.

In 2021, a systematic literature review of 29 studies found that #firefighters experienced a variety of psychosocial stressors in additional to physical #stress, and that those stressors were associated with multiple health?related outcomes. These were organized into six areas: “#depression?suicidality, non?depressive #mentalhealthproblems, burnout, #alcohol use disorders, sleep quality, and physiological parameters, and somatic disorders.”

Additionally, a recent publication from the Ruderman Family Foundation follows up its initial 2018 report on #mentalhealth and #suicide of #firstresponders, finding that, “#policemen and #firefighters are more likely to die by #suicide than in the line of duty.”

While the new report doesn’t include recent 2021 and 2022 statistics, it’s known that the added effects of the #Covid-19 pandemic such as increased workload, #stress and #trauma from being a #firstresponder, and exposure to the #virus itself impacted both work and home life. In fact, a study on the #stigma on #firstresponders during #Covid-19 showed a notable “increased sense of #isolation, stigmatization, and lack of support.”

As Jay Ruderman, President of the Ruderman Family Foundation described the new data, “Our research underscores the ongoing #mentalhealthcrisis facing #firstresponders, which has become a perfect storm that combines the existing dangers of their work and the toll exerted by the #pandemic.”

But, according to the Firefighter #Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA), moral injury is additionally to blame, although rarely discussed. Their most recent paper explores the implications of moral injury, or as they describe it, “Moral injury is the damage done to one’s conscience or moral compass when that person perpetrates, witnesses, or fails to prevent acts that transgress one’s own moral beliefs, values, or ethical codes of conduct.” Given the distressing events faced on a regular basis, it’s easy to see how one’s beliefs and emotions become wounded.

#James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book,
#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:
From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Another way to think of the #mental toll is as cumulative exposures to traumatic #stress, that when left unaddressed, can “snowball,” leading to burnout, #PTSD, and moral injury.

Unfortunately, no government organization requires reporting of #firefighter deaths or attempts. Nor is there mandatory research to find patterns, trends, or understand the multidimensional aspects that lead to loss of life. However, some cities and departments, like Detroit, do audits of their fire services.

In addition, work like that being conducted by the FBHA can support the development of strategies to help this essential workforce deal with the considerable #mentalhealthchallenges that come with their work. Jeff Dill, Founder and CEO of FBHA says, “One of our goals is to ensure, through #behavioralhealth workshops and providing resources, that our brothers and sisters have a great career, but a better retirement.”

With that in mind, to reduce the number of deaths by #suicide in our firefighting population during service and in retirement we must promote a culture of #self-care as well as provide access to #mentalhealthservices, train #firefighters on #suicideprevention, and implement effective debriefing after traumatic events. The psychosocial stressors and moral injury related to their work calls for specific interventions and #mentalhealthsupport.

“It is incumbent upon us to redouble our efforts to end the silence and eradicate the #stigma surrounding the #mentalhealth of #firstresponders,” says Ruderman.

Although the conversations can be uncomfortable, by increasing awareness and drawing attention to the lives, experiences, and #traumas experienced by #firstresponders we can collectively ensure more resources and support are available.

Follow me on #Twitter or #LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here. 

Nicole F. RobertsFollow

Dr. Nicole (Fisher) Roberts is the Executive Director of Feed A Billion, an international nonprofit that feeds #girls around the world to… Read More