Mental health and psychological wellness have long been taboo subjects within the ranks of emergency services. The perceived weakness of human emotion (when exposed to extreme conditions and situations) has contributed to our culture of non-dependency, isolation of feelings and lack of personal outreach.
At times, we’re slow to respond to the tell-tale signs of post-traumatic stress because we question our role, our interference, our responsibility and the privacy of those affected.
As our members continue to experience natural reactions to traumatic environments, we must be prepared to step in. Without intervention, we’ll lose good people to the effects of critical incident/post-traumatic stress—in more ways than one.
Read more at the International Association of Fire Chiefs
