Contributed by MnFIRE Mental Health Director Melinda Coscarelli, PhD, LPCC, LADC According to the Minnesota Department of Health, recent data shows more than 800 Minnesotans die by suicide every year. In Minnesota’s fire service, research by the National Alliance on Mental Illness tells us that nearly 50% of firefighters are currently experiencing or have experienced...Read More
The Minnesota Firefighter Initiative (MnFIRE) Board of Directors has named Rebecca Otto the new Executive Director of MnFIRE. With a breadth of experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors, Rebecca is well-positioned to help strengthen MnFIRE and further its mission supporting Minnesota’s 20,000 firefighters and their families. Rebecca joined MnFIRE’s team in May 2024...Read More
We hope you’ll join all of us in congratulating Wayne Kewitsch as he retires as MnFIRE executive director. He’s been serving the state’s fire service in this role since January 2021, always with an eye towards taking care of our firefighters just as they take care of our communities. And, he’s made sure of that...Read More
Contributed by Nicholas E. Blonien, D.O. Firefighting is stressful, taxing the body and mind in unique ways. Firefighters experience stress while anticipating the next call, upon waking to the alarm in the middle of the night, during work on scene and after tough calls. Stress 101 Stress is the result of nervous system activation, specifically...Read More
Contributed by MnFIRE Mental Health Director Melinda Coscarelli, PhD, LPCC, LADC Summer is a popular time for outdoor gatherings and celebrations with friends and family. So many of these social events, parties and get-togethers will have alcoholic beverages at the ready. Let’s face it: we live in a culture that likes to drink! But how do...Read More
Contributed by Nicholas E. Blonien, D.O. Research and firefighter wellness initiatives, like the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative (MnFIRE), have worked hard to spotlight the pervasive occupational stressors across the fire service: shiftwork, fatigue, hazardous exposures, psychosocial trauma and more. Collectively, these stressors increase the risk for injury, cardiometabolic disease, cancer and mental illness. While awareness and...Read More
Kyle Bode has been in the fire service for more than 20 years and he’s a proud MnFIRE peer supporter. Peer supporters like Kyle are a crucial support system for Minnesota’s 20,000 firefighters and their families. They provide free and confidential support to their fire service brothers and sisters experiencing personal, emotional or work-related problems....Read More
Contributed by Nicholas E. Blonien, D.O. What if you were told there is a drug that prevents cancer, cardiovascular disease, and mental illness? Not only is the drug free, but it also has zero negative side effects, is nearly impossible to overdose on and offers seemingly endless additional health benefits. Would you take it? That...Read More
We’re thrilled to announce that former Minnesota State Auditor Rebecca Otto has joined MnFIRE as our first-ever Director of Business Affairs. Rebecca brings nearly four decades of public, private and nonprofit experience, deep financial expertise and strong relationships across the state to the MnFIRE team. A well-known and well-respected leader, Rebecca served as Minnesota State...Read More
Contributed by Nicholas E. Blonien, D.O. Cancer remains a leading cause of firefighter mortality. Despite marvelous advances in diagnostic technologies and therapeutics, healthy lifestyle choices are still a powerful prevention strategy, especially for those in the higher-risk firefighting field. Earlier in 2023, leaders in firefighter research published a review of current evidence supporting the effectiveness...Read More
