INDIANA – On Wednesday, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security released the final installment of the video series ‘When the Smoke Clears.’
This powerful project explores the state of mental health among fire, EMT, and other public safety personnel. The open discussion around this topic allows first responders to consider their mental well-being differently and reminds us all to ask for and offer help when it is needed the most.
This four-part video series highlighting the need to tackle mental health issues of first responders, this latest episode talks about what to look for in yourself and your teammates that might indicate some help is needed. Anger, isolation and excess emotion all can appear when a mental crisis begins to take hold, and this episode provides some examples of “red flags” that can appear before a crisis spirals out of control.
According to Indiana State Fire Marshal Stephen Jones, life in the firehouse is comprised of a very tight-knit community, and routines are typical for all the men and women on the job. It could be changes to those patterns that clearly indicate that trouble is brewing, and some conversations may need to happen. If a person begins to remove himself/herself from group settings (firehouse dinners, meetings, etc.), that could lead to riskier behavior.
Leaders should look for responders yelling at their teammates more than usual or appearing sad or tired all the time. To be a good teammate, being a good observer is key. Pay attention to the well-being of the people next to you, and they should be paying close attention to your overall health as well.
“When the Smoke Clears” just scratches the surface of the complex environment of mental stress in the public safety field.
The sincere hope is to eliminate these barriers and talk openly about a real problem facing first responders today. The brotherhood and family atmosphere of the fire/EMS field offer so many advantages, and it takes this strong support system to help one overcome a mental crisis that develops from the experiences first responders see and feel through the job.
“We need healthy firefighters and medics, and that includes being a mentally healthy person. It’s your job and your commitment to be the best you can be for yourself, your family, and your community,” said Jones.
If you have ideas on other topics to cover in a future episode of “When the Smoke Clears,” please reach out to the Public Affairs office via pio@dhs.in.gov.
You can watch all four episodes of the series on the IDHS YouTube channel or online on the IDHS website.
