Firefighter mental health and wellness
Written By: Christopher Brooks, Lake Worth Fire Department, Texas
From 2014 to 2019, firefighter suicides outranked the number of firefighter Line of Duty Deaths. The rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are up to five times higher in firefighters. How does the mental health of a firefighter affect you as a leader or even your crew? Combating mental health issues in the fire service is detrimental and can be a life-or-death situation on or off duty. Leaders of the organization can directly affect a firefighter’s mental health, but they can also help the firefighter by learning the signs and symptoms of mental health issues, the effects that it can cause as a department, and the resources to help a firefighter through the situations they may face.
Most firefighters have not come out and openly stated that they were not okay or that there is a problem. Why is that? Is it the stigma of the “manly” fire service? Without open words, it becomes quite difficult to know if one is okay. What does this mean for a leader in an organization? It means that one must know the signs and symptoms of mental decline and be able to pick up on clues as to why their counterpart is acting in a particular way. PTSD behavioral symptoms of firefighters usually start after a traumatic event. Research shows that twenty percent of firefighters experience PTSD compared to six percent of the general public. Is the firefighter often missing from shift activities, such as truck checks, daily chores, or eating with everyone else? Is the firefighter mentally and emotionally present or simply going through the motions? Are they negative and complaining about the daily chores and or canceled calls, the other shift didn’t do something or the Chief’s decision? No matter the outcome, the firefighter continues to be displeased. Easily irritable or hyper reacts to any situation. Hyperreactivity is the outcome of multiple past situations that have piled up and the firefighter reacts before thinking. When asked, the firefighter may say they are “just tired” in order to give an answer and avoid the actual conversation. Over weeks or even months, you hear a firefighter complain of multiple health issues such as headaches, fatigue, or weight gain. Does the firefighter rely on things to help them function, such as excessive energy drinks and tobacco usage? Or have they been prescribed shift work medication to help regulate sleeping habits or to simply feel energized throughout the day? CNS stimulants are most commonly used, some examples would be Provigil, modafinil, and Armodafinil. Or maybe the firefighter begins to drink a substantial amount on their day off. The mental health of firefighters will continue to be a major issue in the service. Leaders of an organization must recognize these signs and symptoms for the health of the firefighter and their organization.
Can a fire station or crew effectively work with a missing person or one that is not all there? From the time that the tones go off until a unit makes it on scene no matter the call, that crew is already behind the eight ball and is now having to play catch up. So, without that firefighter there or that firefighter not being one hundred percent, can that task be completed without hurting another member of that unit? One person on the crew can bring down the morale of the shift and even the department, entirely. This profession is a thin line of life or death whether it is for a victim, your crew, or even the firefighter themselves. Station life can be affected when the firefighter is absent from truck checks, chores, or any other daily activity causing the other crew members to take up the slack of that person’s duties. Missing from training, causing the cohesiveness of the crew to decline. Without others recognizing and the firefighter continuing to push away, resentment may begin and cause further hardship within the station and cause a further decline in the firefighter. On high stress calls the firefighter may be absent-minded and go through the motions causing a delay in fire suppression or patient care. During patient care, the firefighter may become irritable and vocal or physical then causing a lack of trust from the patient that could flow out to the community. A fire crew is a puzzle, without one piece it could lead to a catastrophic event or a steady decline in a crew or department.
What does this mean as a leader? How does one approach an event such as this? The first thing to recognize is the signs and symptoms and see if there is a pattern of the events taking place. Remember that firefighters may have the “stigma” and not be willing to openly talk about the situation, but as a leader express openly the observations that have been made, but give no assumptions, allowing the firefighter to start a conversation. Consider, is it me? Could I be providing better guidance? The culture of a fire department solely relies on the leaders of the organization. How can I promote mental health in my department? BE OPEN! Allow the firefighters to talk, not just after a significant call or issue, but in every situation of every day. Be an open door. Lead by example. Policies in the department are not there for solely firefighters, they are there for all roles of a department. If there is no policy or procedure for mental health, then DEVELOP the policy and procedure. Reach out to other departments that may have one. Give the firefighter an outlet. If they are not willing to talk to you maybe they are willing to talk to another agency or person. National Firefighter Fallen Foundation, International Association Firefighters Foundation, and peer support teams are examples of an outlet for firefighter support. As a leader, you must step up and support your members. Without support, the morale of the firefighter or the department will continue to decline.
Depression, PTSD, and the mental health of firefighters in the fire service will always be prevalent. As a leader in the service, no matter the rank, it is key to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health decline in your department or crew. Without recognition of the mental health issues, the effects can be detrimental and ultimately injure or kill a member or a citizen. You, as a leader, owe it to be the best advocate you can be for your firefighters. Steps to implement policies and procedures for mental health are essential for the continuity of the department.
REFERENCES
https://theconversation.com/the-aching-red-firefighters-often-silently-suffer-from-trauma-and-job-related-stress-164994
