The stresses faced by first responders have always been a cause for concern. In today’s environment, with increasing demands, decreased staffing, and overwhelming calls for service, wellness has become a focus of public safety leaders. Statistics have shown that firefighter suicide rates exceed line of duty deaths. While there is mandatory reporting of career firefighter LODDs, there is underreporting of volunteer fire service, EMS, and 911 telecommunicator deaths.
The Public Employer Risk Management Association (PERMA) and NYSAFC have developed a three-episode audio podcast series to assist firefighters, EMS personnel, and 911 telecommunicators.
NYSAFC Chief Executive Officer Bruce Heberer noted, “We have finally turned a corner. When I came on the job in the 1980s, you didn’t talk about your stress. That was wrong. We need to support our people, get them to talk about the things that bother them. These podcasts help us to better understand the problem of stress and suicide, and to encourage discussion without judgment.”
PERMA Public Safety Risk Management Specialist Pete Frisoni said, “The number of first responder suicides is very alarming and we need to do whatever we can to help. PERMA is glad to support our fire, EMS, and 911 professionals with this podcast series to increase awareness, remove the stigma of seeking help, and provide vital resources.”
The series confronts the problem of stress and suicide among first responders through compelling interviews with professionals who have personally witnessed the trauma and stress of being on the front lines. At the conclusion of each episode, several resources are provided with contact numbers for counseling services, hotlines, and other services.
The podcast episodes, titled “The Stresses of the Front Lines – Fire, EMS, and 911,” “The Stress Bucket,” and “Providing Support – Professionals, Peers, Families,” complement the free “Fire/EMS Behavioral Health: The Price We Pay” workshop series presented by NYSAFC through the support of PERMA. Participants in the podcast discussions include Past Chief Mike Healy (Central Nyack Fire Department) and Chief Jared Meeker (Lake Shore Fire District), lecturers for the workshop series, as well as others from the fire, EMS, and public safety communications field.
The podcasts can be accessed from PERMA's website or NYSAFC’s online Firefighter Behavioral Health Resource Center.
NYSAFC gratefully acknowledges the support of PERMA and commends PERMA's firm commitment to improving first responder health and wellness.
New York State Association of Fire Chiefs