More Firefighters Committed Suicide In 2017 Than Died In Line Of Duty – Forbes

Last week, Southern California was stunned by the disappearance of an LA County Fire Department Captain. For almost a week family, friends, firefighters and first responder communities came together to help locate him. Unfortunately, for the loved ones of Wayne Habell, five days after his disappearance he was found, having taken his own life.

Sadly, for those in first responder roles, suicide is nothing new. In fact, the Journal of Emergency Medical Services reports in a 2015 survey of more than 4,000 first responders, that 37% had contemplated suicide and almost 7% had attempted it. That is more than 10 times the rate of the general population. Nevertheless, the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FFBHA) says that despite that staggering number, they estimate only 40% of firefighter suicides are voluntarily reported.

Another study concluded that at least 103 firefighters had taken their own lives in 2017, while only 93 had died in the line of duty. This same report from the Ruderman Family Foundation also highlighted that firefighters commit suicide at a higher rate than even their police officer peers.  And if the FFBHA is correct, that means more than twice the number died at their own hand than in the line of duty.

Firefighters, like many first responders, spend a career facing death and destruction. Shift after shift trying to save others while putting themselves in harms way. But for firefighters, a challenging schedule can intensify issues. Sleep deprivation, 24-hour work shifts, lots of missed family time and generally low pay. Consequently, there is plenty of opportunity for frustration and stress – professional and personal. And despite being five times more likely to suffer from depression and PTS symptoms than the rest of the population, very few fire stations support mental health care needs (supposedly less than 5%).

With increasing frequency, the mental health of full-time firefighters is compared to those who serve in the military. Populations who self-select into physically demanding, high-risk taking careers, purposefully running into danger with the aim of helping others. And that, especially in these male-dominated fields, the occupation is how they define themselves. Thus, once they pass the peak of their physicality or face retirement, they often report feeling a loss of identity. Add in a Superman complex of feeling like it’s their job to save others, frequent reports of decreasing testosterone levels with age, and the effects of hiding their emotions following years of traumatic situations, and it’s no wonder the stigmas, symptoms and outcomes often look similar between firefighters and service members.

Strategic Successes

Although suicide in the U.S. has reached epidemic levels, the media is selective in highlighting celebrities. Media also covers the deaths of first responders lost in the line of duty extensively. But the ones who are lost to their own demons are left to cope in silence, feeling isolated. First responders in particular are afraid to speak up, for fear of career limitations or being seen as less brave by those around them. But, as more individuals and families begin to speak up, the less alone and stigmatized others feel. And with that, come added resources and strategies.