Report cover: "Suicide in the Fire and Emergency Services: Adopting a Proactive Approach to Behavioral Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention."
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Members of the fire and emergency services regularly face a variety of daily stressors that can have lasting effects on their mental and emotional well-being. Tragically, some do not receive the help that they need to adequately deal with these issues and turn to suicide. With generous support from the United States Fire Administration (USFA), the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) developed a comprehensive report addressing suicide in the fire and emergency services.
Authored by Jeff Dill from the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA), the report, Suicide in the Fire and Emergency Services: Adopting a Proactive Approach to Behavioral Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention, explores various behavioral health concerns and identifies resources and best practices for mental wellness and suicide prevention. The report also includes data from a behavioral health survey conducted by the NVFC earlier this year. The survey was completed by 849 first responders, and the data analysis was performed for the NVFC by HOPE Health Research Institute.
In conjunction with the report, the NVFC also facilitated an informational webinar featuring the authors. The webinar examined the report’s content and explored the survey results in-depth. Click here to view the webinar recording.
About FBHA and Jeff Dill
The Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance was established to directly educate firefighters, EMS personnel, and their families about behavioral health issues such as depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, addictions, and firefighter suicides. FBHA works closely with public safety and is currently partnered with Safe Call Now to promote fire and police behavioral health training across the United States. FBHA also attempts to collect firefighter suicide case information. If you know of a firefighter suicide and would like to submit information, please fill out their form. FBHA founder Jeff Dill holds a Master’s degree and is a Licensed Counselor, as well as a Battalion Chief at Palatine Rural Fire Protection District (IL).
About HOPE Health Research Institute
HOPE Health Research Institute has done extensive research on fire service health and wellness issues. HOPE HRI scientists are experts in methodology and statistical analysis who are keenly aware of the special needs of scientists and academicians. They have conducted research in areas such as tobacco control, physical activity and fitness, obesity epidemiology and treatment, dietary interventions, community health interventions, and cardiovascular outcomes.
