The mental health challenges faced by police, fire, and EMS workers are significantly higher than the general population. This calls for immediate attention and support for first responders and their families.
Former St. Louis Metropolitan Police Sargeant Rich Banahan is now a law enforcement trainer with Behavioral Health Response, where he educates departments in promoting mental health and wellness. He has trained over 350 members of the St. Louis Fire Department, including Fire Department Chief Dennis Jenkerson, who noted the increase in suicide and mental illness trends within departments over the past 15 to 20 years.
Factors such as long working hours, separation from families, exposure to traumatic events, and societal stressors contribute to these mental health challenges. To address these issues, the STL Fire Department has implemented various resources such as suicide awareness and prevention programs, peer support systems, post-traumatic stress debriefings, and other initiatives focused on first responder safety.
Recently, Banahan and Jenkins discussed these important mental health strategies with Fox 2’s Jasmine Huda in an effort to raise awareness about the mental health challenges facing first responders and the importance of providing adequate support to address these issues.
