In 2015, first responder suicide rates are currently about ten times that of other citizens

In 2015, first responder suicide rates are currently about ten times that of other citizens. There is an obvious need to lower this rate, which has caused the National Fallen Firefighters’ Foundation to develop the Firefighter Life Safety Initiative (US Fire Administration, 2016). Depression, PTSD, and suicidal ideation are the leading issues. The suicide risk of EMS personnel is particularly high, and firefighters and police officers die more often of suicide than all other line of duty death causes (Vigil et al., 2021). This has prompted many changes in most states directed at the mental health care available for this population sector.

Several initiatives have come out nationally as well as on a state-by-state and at local levels. One of the initiatives was a bolstering of post-incident debriefing and counseling services. Debriefing has happened informally since the dawn of emergency response, often in the form of gathering around a table, but is now formalized with protocols that have proven effective. Another initiative is an increase of availability of therapy and counseling services to responders as part of employee assistance programs, including volunteers, and the inclusion of mental health responsibilities for health and safety officers. A third initiative is the inclusion of mental health in the pre-incident plans for all disciplines of first responders (Fire, law enforcement, and EMS). This stems directly to the fourth initiative: educating leadership and responders about mental health, resilience training, and the effects of what responders see and do as a part of their normal activities (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2018). The education is the most important of all the interventions as knowledge and recognition ability is what allows responders to access help.