It’s horrible to see hard-working people struggling with anxiety, depression, night terrors and panic attacks. It’s even worse when you realize that they suffer from those kinds of symptoms because of helping the people around them.
In Glendale, firefighters have been working hard to prevent wildfires from wrecking whole communities. They, in turn, have been left working through post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In 2019, Glendale Fire started a new program to help workers who were struggling with these psychiatric symptoms. The program, which was created with a $43,000 grant, helps counsel and train firefighters on PTSD and peer counseling. The program is particularly vital for firefighters because they regularly deal with trauma and violence on the job.
In 2017, a study that was performed by the Ruderman Family Foundation revealed a sad discovery: 103 firefighters had died by suicide that year. That’s more than the total of firefighters who died in the line of duty (93).
Stress can have a lasting effect on workers
There is no question that mental stress can impact workers. That’s why this kind of program, and workers’ compensation, should be available to support psychiatric and mental health services.
No matter what career you’re in, it is important that you have access to the health care services that you need, whether they are mental health services or physiological services. Your overall health relies on good mental health, so it’s essential that you do seek help if and when you need it. Whether it’s from trauma in the workplace, violence, physical injuries or other causes, PTSD can change your life and should be addressed as soon as possible.