Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Mental Well-Being
Video: Psychologist Offers Fire Chiefs Tips for Proactive Stress Management
By Janet Wilmoth (janet@firechief.com)
Stress-induced psychological and physiological disorders top the list of health problems in industrialized nations, and fire departments should be proactive with stress management to avoid firefighter burnout — this according to a clinical psychologist who spoke at Fire-Rescue International last month. ...
Rising from the Ashes
Recommendations of the Phoenix Fire Department's Mental Health Task Force....
Rescuing the Rescuers
By Glenn Bischoff (glenn.bischoff@penton.com)
Trust, peer involvement, early intervention and union buy-in all are critical in addressing the stress and emotional disorders that afflict firefighters....
Behavioral Health at the Forefront
By Richard Gist
Research has raised significant concerns about the intervention and treatment approaches that commonly are used with fire-service personnel....
Stress Busters
By Jeff Dill
Fire chiefs always have been responsible for their firefighters' health and safety. Today, however, that responsibility has expanded to include the emotional and behavioral issues that can be every bit as debilitating as a line-of-duty injury. It's a whole new world....
CISM Teams Aid First Responders to Tucson Shootings
By Janet Wilmoth
Besides Northwest Fire District and Tucson Fire, multiple agencies are part of the CISM program, including the border patrol, sheriff’s department, clergy and schools....
Spin a Yarn
By Janet Wilmoth (janet@firechief.com)
Storytelling isn't limited to sharing childhood memories. Telling and re-telling tales of calls and incidents that went right — or, more importantly, that went wrong — can teach valuable lessons. ...
Don't Keep Grief Boxed Up
By Janet Wilmoth (janet@firechief.com)
The stigma over seeking help for mental health remains....
Unintended Consequences
By John Linstrom
Rescuers painfully find that they too are victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks....
Understand Mental Trauma
By Rick Markley
It is difficult for a fire chief to acknowledge and seek help for his or her own mental health issues. Recognizing those issues in department members is a completely different, yet equally difficult, matter....
A Father's Grief
By Pat Kenny
In this very personal essay, one chief officer shares his doubts about his ability to lead after a tragic loss and his long road to recovery....
Take Control
Janet Wilmoth janet@firechief.com
The diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, cancer or any other illness is devastating, and the obvious first reaction is learning how to stay alive. ...
Under The Hood
By Scott Ferguson
Invest in emotional maintenance to keep your members free of stress and running smoothly....
Since 9/11
By Janet Wilmoth
Over the past few years, one phrase that has peppered industry conferences, training sessions and the media has been “Since 9/11….” In a recent conversation about the history of the fire service and the ...
The Common Cold of Mental Illness
[ Mike Chiaramonte ]
Some firefighters have noticed that another member hasn't been acting like himself for a couple of weeks. When they asked him if anything was wrong, the...
Some Friendly Advice
By Portia Rawles, Psy.D.
Occupational stress is strongly associated with mental and physical health. We know how many firefighters are lost in the line of duty, yet we do not...
Higher Counsel
By Wayne Detzler, Ph.D.
Chaplain, follow me into the fire scene, the incident commander ordered. As we entered the burnt-out room of a high-rise apartment building, a charred...
Battered System
By Portia Rawles
Typical discussions of workplace violence conjure up images of a disgruntled employee who acted out his or her hostility on other co-workers and/or supervisors....
Not without warning
By Portia Rawles, Psy.D., Assistant Professor, Regent University, Virginia Beach, Va.
Training firefighters to recognize the signs of suicide in their peers and creating a support system can help prevent tragedy and ease the grieving....
Don't divorce yourself from members' marital woes
By Portia Rawles, Psy.D.
Learning to handle the dissolution of a firefighter's marriage can help decrease poor job performance and other stressors....
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