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Suicide in the Fire Service

Derek Lopez
Northwest Career and Technical Academy
English 12 Period 1
Ms. Acosta
March 5th 2021
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Abstract
A lot of America's suicidal first responders go unseen. This paper will be directed to the

suicidal first responders in the fire service. Also “risk”, explained and risk factors and how they

all go hand and hand. About how unserious this matter is taken. How this epidemic can be better

controlled.
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Suicide in the Fire Service

About 103 reported firefighters committed suicide in 2017. There are more deaths due to

suicde than to deaths on the actual lines of duty. This is a very quiet topic and isn’t talked about

enough amongst fire departments. This is the sole reason suicide is such a serious killer

worldwide. It isn’t brought to light because it is a sensitive subject and many people don’t want

to offend or say the wrong things. Sometimes, the last hope many people need is one more

person to tell them they care. Although some may say opening up about suicide and its

seriousness isn’t the right approach because it would just make matters worse, speaking on

suicide in the firedepartment would prevent so many lives unnecessarily lost each year.

Moreover, the big question this undeniable fact brings forth is, why? Why isn’t this clear

problem talked about more in the service. There is a common misconception that by simply not

bringing the problem to light it can be prevented easier. The obvious lack in procedures and

protical when it comes to attention to suicide is minimal if nothing at all. According to a statistics

done by Jeff Dill director and licensed counselor of the Counseling Services for Fire Fighters,

more than “160 firefighters committed suicide since 2000.” This proves it is evident that this

issue is ignored in the fire service. The fire service actively keeps this killer silent, if this were

not the case this problem wouldn’t be as severe as it is today. However there is no way to
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completely put a halt in all suicides. According to Nami.org “Research has found that 46% of

people who die by suicide had a known mental health condition” so no matter what you can’t

stop suicide all together. Not all suicides have to do with situations that can be prevented or

better dealt with because mental illness is something that can’t be 100% controlled. However this

problem could be better controlled with more conversation. Inevitably, suicide brings strong

feelings and emotions, which is the main reason as to why conversing the topic could possibly

make matters worse. With reasonable and civil conversation and procedure, this problem could

be greatly reduced. Simply adding a suicide awreness course into basic requirements could save

so many lives.

Additionally, another big question is, are firefighters automatically at risk for suicide.

Well, there are many risk factors that come into play. For example “risk” in general is a vague

word and depending on the amount of risk factors a firefighter may have can increase the risk of

actual suicide. According to University of Fire Engneering “The risk factors for attempted

suicide in adults include depression and substance use.” This brings up the valid argument that

these risk factors could possibly outweigh the fire service as a whole among firefighters. Among

adults not in the fire service, these two main risk factors are most definitely one of the main

reasons many adults take their own lives year round. However substance use and or abuse can be

highly illegal and to be a first responder of any sort means to have a perfect record and to stay

with the law by any means. According to WorkChron “Therefore, firefighters can be disqualified

for conditions that impair their physical performance as well as for physically or morally harmful

behavior. This behavior includes drug abuse, criminal activity and even repeated traffic

violations.” So this risk factor is shaved off for the majority of firefighters. That only leaves

depression out of the two which again is drawn out mainly from the effects and the toll working
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in the fire service has on firefighters. However I don’t deny there aren’t other minor risk factors

that come in when talking about reasons outside of the fire service.

Furthermore, what are some ways to combat this very real and prevalent issue. First off,

there should be programs showcasing the harmful effects the job entails that can lead to thoughts

of suicide should be required. This is important because it can prepare these men and women for

these moments and give them guidance on how to handle these situations and thoughts. There

needs to be more guidance regarding suicide and mental trama. These are the biggests flaws in

the system and fire service. They can start with “Signs and signals of stress. • Static risk factors. •

Nonstatic risk factors. • Healthy living/stress management.” According to the University of Fire

Engineering. These are very important factors in helping to combat suicide. If these programs or

classes were implemented into the basic requirements of becoming a firefighter so many

innocent lost lives would still be here today. They just didn’t know how to handle their thoughts

or where to go because they were never trained and talked to about these problems they

themselves didn’t know existed. They were taught to mute stress and handle it by shutting it out

but having so much stress bottled up inside will eventually make its way out. This process can

end up either detrimental to one’s mental and physical health or end up fatal as a whole.

Many believe that suicide in the fire service could simply pertain to the persons outside

life and not mainly their occupations. A person may decide to take their own life when facing a

loss or the fear of a loss. According to Very Well Mind by By Nancy Schimelpfening most

sucide cases include “Academic failure, Being arrested or imprisoned, Bullying, shaming, or

humiliation, including cyberbullying, Financial problems, End of a close friendship or romantic

relationship, Job loss, Loss of friends or family acceptance due to revealing your sexual

orientation, Loss of social status.” More big factors have to do with mental illness, as a result
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these are very real and true reasons why many Americans take their lives each year. However

none of the sources really have to do with the occupation itself. Many of the main traumatic

experiences that come with the job go unnoticed. These very traumatic experiences build up

within the person and eventually over time become too much for them to handle. At First it

doesn't seem like a real problem because they are trained to mute stress and not show these

emotions. This is why it can be hard to tell who needs help and who doesn't. However this

problem ties very much into the occupation itself.

In brief, suicide is a very big issue in itself. However it’s highly unnoticed when it comes

to the fire service. In short, there needs to be some sort of required class or program that helps

recruits learn about suicide. Something that exposes these recruits to the heavy effects of the job.

Also how to deal with traumatic experiences that come with it and how to kill any suicidal

thoughts or never have them as a whole.

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References

DeMerceau, J. (2018, June 29). What Disqualifies You From Being a Fireman? Retrieved from

https://work.chron.com/disqualifies-being-fireman-5400.html

Risk of Suicide. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Common-with-Mental-Illness/Risk-of-Suicide

Schimelpfening, N. (2021, February 19). Why Do People Commit Suicide? Retrieved from

https://www.verywellmind.com/why-do-people-commit-suicide-1067515

Study: Police Officers and Firefighters Are More Likely to Die by Suicide than in Line of Duty.

(2018, April 10). Retrieved from

https://rudermanfoundation.org/white_papers/police-officers-and-firefighters-are-more-likel

y-to-die-by-suicide-than-in-line-of-duty/

https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-media/NFPA-Journal/2020/July-Aug

ust-2020/Features/Firefighter-Fatalities