Suicide is a national problem; in fact, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, it is one of the top 10 causes of death in most age groups. The 2020 Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance report lists 139 Firefighters have died from suicide. Numbers are likely under-reported due to the stigma surrounding suicide and because of the varying ways that deaths are reported and categorized. I know we all think we know each other and we think this could never happen here but, it is hard to argue when you collect the data. The facts are that more firefighters die from suicide each year than in the line of duty. Since 2009, LODD's have decreased while deaths by suicide have increased. The FBHA founder, Jeff Dill, states that only 40 percent of firefighter suicides are even reported. That is astounding to me. Our job is to deal with some of the worst circumstances, life changing crises that people could encounter and whether it is what we see in a single terrible call or the years of cumulative tragedy the stress can cause us temporarily to lose our bearings. Firefighting and EMS are not "normal: vocations. We chose this job but it comes with challenges and risks to both our physical and emotional health.
Bottom line.. we need to take care of each other.
Original source can be found here.
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