Responder Suicide the busted paradigm
Steven Schreck
Living with PTSI and looking for positive sources of hope for myself and other First Responders. Trained in individual and group crisis intervention, Critical Incident Stress Management and Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention.
How many 1st Responder commit suicide? We have seen the numbers. 1.62% more likely than the general population. More likely to die by suicide than by line of duty death. We know it’s a problem, but how big is the “Problem” really? Everyone wants numbers and statistics. Before we take action, everyone wants to see how big the problem is. Do the statistics warrant immediate action and a call to throw a bunch of money at this or we need to take a serious look at this or let’s figure out a long term plan how to deal with this by forming a committee or working group.
Well, at this point where we at? What do the statistics show? Well, the problem is Huge. What do the statistics show? Nothing….. That is the biggest indication that the problem is Huge. I say this because if the numbers were accurate, we know it is an unacceptable number. There are organizations and agencies trying their best to create accurate numbers. With active Law Enforcement Officers it’s “fairly” reliable because LEO are certified and tracked, however, with all other categories of First Responders and even with LEOs there are significant holes in the data. The Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance has researched and diligently tries to put together some numbers for Firefighters and EMTs. In many places dispatchers are considered civilian employees and not first responders. Here is a few reasons why the numbers are flawed and only a fraction are reported and documented as suicides.?
Nationally about 65-70% of Firefighters are volunteers. In many states the percentage is around 80%. It is more likely for a volunteer Firefighter or EMT to fall out of the system. If a volunteer starts struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Injuries they leave or get pushed out for nonperformance. I’ve known of a few cases where a “former” firefighter committed suicide but the department administration didn’t recognize, acknowledge or report it, because in their eyes this person wasn’t a responder. In one case it was within days of the person leaving the department.?
Another misreporting or lack of reporting that tends to be a bigger issue in small communities is the stigma of suicide. Whether the “small community” is the town, the department, even the church. It is extremely difficult for people to process that one of their own would be so overwhelmed that they would take their own life. For the sake of the family, the department,?the church or whatever the community, any explanation is used or even fabricated. They mixed up their medication, they were cleaning their loaded gun, they fell off the cliff while hiking… This brings me to another belief that can’t be substantiated that there are responders that commit suicide with no note or explanation given. They make the choice because it is the only option they can see to relieve the torment they feel.?
Resources for responder are few and far between. Reasonable accessibility to resources is in many cases nonexistent. The resources that are accessible for volunteers are expensive or require travel. There are no Employee Assistance Programs in volunteer departments and if a person has insurance to help with the costs, it alerts their family that they are having issues. See my article on “Why It’s Not Okay, To Not Be Okay”.
And my final point of why the numbers will always be flawed and unreliable. That is responders themselves. Most anyone that has been a responder for any length of time has responded to suicides and attempted suicides. Maybe even what would be considered as a lot by anyone outside of the responder community. We see not only the impact these deaths have, but also see what is effective, what impact a suicide note has and how some methods impact all those that respond.
It is my hope that we can get past the political numbers game and simply say there are too many loses. That reasonable and accessible solutions need to be found. That programs need to be developed and funded as an essential part of emergency services. Most of all we all need to erase the stigma so those injured feel safe to seek out solutions without the worry that the solution will be more devastating than the injury.
Resources:
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National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255, 1-800-273-TALK or 988 you don’t have to be suicidal to call
National Volunteer Fire Council Fire/EMS helpline 1-888-731-FIRE (3473) You don’t have to be suicidal to call, immediate help and will locate resources nearby.
Crisis Text line, text HOME to 741741
Safe Call Now 206-459-3020
First Responder Crisis Support Helpline 1-844-550-HERO (4376)
IAFF members 24/7 PTSD helpline 866-965-3074 you don’t have to be suicidal to call.
International Law Enforcement Officer Hotline (staffed by retired LEOs) 1-800-COPLINE, 1-800-267-5463 you don’t have to be suicidal to call.
LEO Crisis Text line, Text BADGE to 741741
Medical Assistant Asst. Fire Chief (RET)
2 年Excellent read Brother! It is sad that volunteer firefighters are often fallen thru cracks since many times they are not recognized like their career brothers. We still have a lot of work that needs to be done to ensure every brother and sister can get same treatment. We all dedicated ourselves to look out for each other on the job. I feel we are all brothers for life even when off the job. We must always have each others 6!!!