In the conclusion of our talk with Fire Captain Scott Shaunfield, we zoom out and look at the broader effects of traumatic stress on First Responders. We ask Capt. Shaunfield to illuminate the damage this work-related condition creates, not just for himself, but for the men and women he serves with. We look at well-supported research that describes what exposure to suicide does to increase suicidal ideation. 

The number one cause of death for First Responders is not line of duty deaths. It’s suicide. More firefighters and police die by suicide than in the line of duty. Suicide has a direct link to trauma exposure. When First Responders intervene in a suicide attempt or are called to respond to a completed suicide, the chance that they will become suicidal themselves go up. Unsurprisingly, some of those First Responders succumb to those thoughts. There is such stigma around asking for help, especially within First Responder culture, that admitting you’ve been affected can be extremely difficult. Peer support teams are one of the most important tools for supporting First Responders. For more on this check out this week’s blog, “Lean on Me: The Value of Peer Support Teams.”