The California Fire Service July - August 2024

CHIEF’S CORNER

September is Suicide Awareness Month

By Sam DiGiovanna

Adding to the physical stress of firefighting, firefighters experienced a variety of mental stressors such as depression, mental health problems, burnout, alcohol use disorders, sleep quality. Unfortunately, suicide among firefighters is on the rise. Unfortunately, suicide among firefighters is on the rise

September is Suicide Prevention Month. Hopefully, your department leaders spent some time discussing the issue of suicide in public safety and our responsibility to provide resources to help personnel develop resilience. Maybe you also shared information with your community through your department’s website or social media.

Yet these numbers often obscure the complexity of the issue. Lexipol co-founder

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