Managing a mental health emergency: How fire chiefs can help their firefighters

Contributed by MnFIRE Mental Health Director Melinda Coscarelli, PhD, LPCC, LADC

As firefighters, you’re taught to always be prepared. Your department spends hours practicing and preparing for that moment when someone calls for help. But how do you answer the call from one of your own?

Mental health problems can come in all sizes, from a firefighter facing burnout to one who is having suicidal thoughts. With the mental demands and emotional toll of firefighting, fire service leaders must be prepared to offer support to their fellow firefighters when needed. After all, firefighters with more supportive cultures and departmental resources perceive their work environment as less stressful, which can lessen manifestations of mental health problems such as anxiety, substance abuse, insomnia and depression.

Here are a few things you can do to be better prepared.

Get trained

Fire service leaders should receive training on how to talk to their crew about mental health concerns. These situations are delicate and at times need to be handled differently than your typical calls. MnFIRE provides access to suicide prevention classes and emotional wellness deep-dive trainings. Because with proper education, you can identify the warning signs for emotional trauma and feel more comfortable having these conversations with your firefighters.

Build awareness and support

Making small changes now can help build a stronger foundation to stand on later. Put up posters around your department with messages and tips for managing different symptoms such as sleep deprivation or moodiness. Posters can be placed in prominent areas like the kitchen, or more discrete locations such as the restrooms. MnFIRE also offers educational materials on resources to help, which show MnFIRE’s free helpline for getting support 24/7.

While a few posters or brochures won’t change the fire service culture, having them visible and accessible can be helpful to someone suffering in silence and start building awareness for the support that’s always available to them.

Be proactive

Several departments have started doing regular check-ins with their crews. A good time for doing this is at roll call or shift changes. It can be as simple as asking your crew to rate their current mental status on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being mentally maxed out. If one of your firefighters is at a seven or higher, pull them aside and ask them what you can do to support them. A simple check-in adds accountability and shows the crew that you genuinely care.

It’s also helpful to develop a safety plan for your department so you know what process to follow to de-escalate any type of crisis situation.

Stay calm

If a mental health emergency does arise, stay calm. Ask the firefighter what you can do to support them through their difficult situation. Steer clear of offering advice, but rather listen and empathize.

Be attentive

Taking a class like MnFIRE’s emotional wellness training or the suicide prevention skills training we put on for our peer supporters can be very beneficial to learning warning signs for someone in distress. Non-verbal and verbal language both give clues about when a firefighter’s mental health may be starting to decline, or they may even become suicidal. It is best to recognize these signs before they escalate into a dangerous situation.

Call MnFIRE

If you don’t feel prepared, know that we are. The MnFIRE toll free number is staffed by masters-level clinicians all day, every day. From one-on-one calls to department debriefs, during the middle of a crisis or after a tough call, we are here for you. Don’t hesitate to use this free, confidential resource available to all full-time, part-time, on-call and volunteer firefighters in Minnesota. Just call 888-784-6634.

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Congrats to our latest training survey Streamlight Survivor flashlight drawing winner – Kevin Lagos of Saint Paul Fire Department!

Curious about how no-cost MnFIRE trainings can benefit your department? See options here! mnfireinitiative.com/training/
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Congrats to our latest training survey Streamlight Survivor flashlight drawing winner – Kevin Lagos of Saint Paul Fire Department!

Curious about how no-cost MnFIRE trainings can benefit your department? See options here! https://mnfireinitiative.com/training/

As we close out Safety Stand Down Week, Day 5 focuses on Training, used to access existing behavioral health training and develop a long-term plan for keeping behavioral health in the department’s training cycle.

We offer a variety of trainings at no cost to all Minnesota fire departments. From emotional wellness to fitness & nutrition plus many more, you can learn and grow alongside other firefighters in your department. mnfireinitiative.com/training/

Thanks for following along with Safety Stand Down Week!

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Empower is the topic for Day 4 of Safety Stand Down Week. This day encourages firefighters to get help if they need it, reach out to those they see who are struggling, and embrace behavioral health initiatives into the department culture.

With the MnFIRE Assistance Program, we make it as easy as possible for Minnesota firefighters to get the help they need. Just call 888-784-6634. mnfireinitiative.com/hhap/#MAP

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As we continue recognizing Safety Stand Down Week, Day 3 centers on Strategies. Use this day to think about specific strategies your department can implement to focus on behavioral health, and review standard operating procedures and guidelines to make sure they fully incorporate behavioral health.

Through the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program, Minnesota firefighters can receive help and no-cost resources for the challenges that come along with their service. This comprehensive firefighter well-being program includes physical, mental and emotional health benefits: mnfireinitiative.com/hhap/

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It's Day 2 of Safety Stand Down Week: Educate! It's focused on educating personnel on the signs and symptoms of behavioral health challenges and that it is okay to reach out for help when needed.

We encourage all Minnesota fire departments to become "MnFIRE Aware" of their occupational health risks through MnFIRE training. Preparedness starts with education, and we're here to facilitate! mnfireinitiative.com/training/

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