Mental health.

It’s a phrase you hear often but in the fire service, it’s harder to own. The reality is clear: firefighters face behavioral health challenges at higher rates than the general population, and too often, those who need support don’t know how to ask for it.

A culture built on toughness can make speaking up difficult. When strength is the expectation, seeking help can feel like a weakness. While the conversation has progressed, stigma still exists, and there’s more work to do.

Taking care of your mental health is part of doing the job right. It means recognizing the impact of what you experience, staying informed, and looking out for yourself and your crew.

Support is out there. The challenge is knowing where to start.

That’s why we’ve compiled trusted mental health resources built for the fire service: tools to support you, your crew, and your families when it counts.

Resources

Articles:

 A Million Papercuts, a journal article from the NFPA discussing suicide and moral injury

 Wounds of the Spirit: Moral Injury in Firefighters, an explanation of moral injury and how it affects firefighters

 Behind the mask: Uncovering the root causes of mental health challenges in the fire service, a discussion of emotional suppression, identity fusion, and inadequate support systems within firehouse culture

Behavioral Health Statistics in the Fire Service, a simple separation of statistics based on type of behavioral health condition, accompanied by a map of North America showing differing levels of behavioral health presumption and benefit levels from 2025

 Unbreakable Sticks: How a bundle of support helps firefighters battle mental health challenges, Fire-Dex discusses mental health in the fire service with Jason Patton, focusing on inter-department support and recognizing when those around you need help

Videos and Documentaries:

 The Call We Carry: Confronting PTSD in the Fire Service, a documentary on firefighter suicide and PTSD

Breaking the Silence: Mental Health in the Fire Service, testimonies about resources and methods to help combat mental health stressors in the fire service

Suicide Awareness in the Fire Service, a panel discussion from the International Association of Fire Fighters

Organizations:

Each of these organizations provides support for firefighters struggling with mental health. Please reach out if you think you need help.

IAFF Center of Excellence - Rehab & Treatment for Fire Fighters

 Firefighter Mental Health Resources | Fire Safety For Life 

 Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance 

Fire-Dex

Interested in learning more about mental health from Fire-Dex? Check out these blogs:

 Mental Health in the Fire Service: Building Awareness and Resiliency 

 Rapid Fire Podcast S2:E1 Addressing Mental Health in the Fire Service 

 The Grueling World of Shift Work for Firefighters: 24s, 48s, and Everything that Happens in Between 

. . .

Whether for yourself, your crew, or someone you care about, this is a place to start.

We stand behind you—on the job and beyond it. Don’t wait to ask for help. It matters.