A Roundtable of Reality

Roundtable Discussion

     Last week (May 28^th), I had the honor and privilege of serving as a panelist in a roundtable discussion about firefighter suicides at the annual symposium of the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association that was held in East Peoria, Illinois.  As I waited for the start of this session, butterflies churned in my stomach and my palms became sweaty; because once again, I was asked to tell the story of my friend and co-worker’s suicide. Although I have made great strides in healing since last year, I noted that it still takes considerable amount of reserve energy to stay grounded to this Earth (even though I have learned to use many tools at my disposal).  What truly kept me emotionally secure was the fact that I was not alone in this venture, as several brother firefighters and chiefs each related similar stories in kind.

     The roundtable was moderated by Chief Pat Kenny of the Western Springs Fire Department, who artfully guided us through the discussion.  We started with personal stories and then moved into topics about behavioral health as it concerned the fire service. Before I knew it, the allotted time of 1 hour and 45 minutes had quickly passed.  I did not get to say everything that I wanted to, nor able to relate all of Sarah’s thoughts (she was unable to attend do to a family member’s illness).  Be that as it may, here were some of my responses to Chief Kenny’s questions:

1.       “What is the #1 thing from your perspective, that you believe the Fire Service needs to address to make progress in the area of Mental Health?”

    The fire service needs to turn the words of Life Safety Initiative #13 into action by becoming proactive in educating every department in the country about behavioral health issues.  The first time I met Matt Olson he told me that the message of the Illinois Firefighter Peer Support Team (ILFFPS) is going to be a 20 year project, and the true indoctrination needs to begin with the rookies in the academy.  We must make them comfortable with discussing the concept of behavioral health, peer support, etc. so that when they become the 20 year guys it will be the norm, instead of the exception to the rule.  The only way this is going to happen is if the now (5, 10, 15, 20) guys lead the charge.  I presented the ILFFPS concept to my department and was given a high compliment by a 7 year veteran.  He said that I was a beacon of hope for a lot of guys because I shared my story, was comfortable discussing my own behavioral health issues, as well as sharing my emotions.  Putting yourself out there is the best grassroots effort that can be made to advance this cause.

ILFFPS

2.      We were each given the opportunity to make a final appeal but ran out of time.  Here is what I said as well as what I would have liked to say:

I described the different ways firefighters could access the ILFFPS (website, Facebook, department peer supporter) in a step by step fashion.  I also talked about the Firefighter Psychological Support Therapists (FPS) and what Sarah requires of them during this educational program (classroom, field time, and supervised clinical counseling of firefighters).  It was also explained to the chiefs that both peer supporters and FPS therapists must complete annual continuing education requirements.  The rest of what follows is what I would have liked to have finished with:

FPS

     Education about behavioral health, along with an active peer support system, will be the best way to make advances in providing a more balanced life for members of the fire service.  Self-care will be the cornerstone to the success of any behavioral health program.  We can tirelessly spread our message, but each firefighter needs to realize that they must courageously take that first step forward and seek help through either a peer supporter, FPS therapist, or a combination of both.  It is better to be proactive in caring for oneself before someone else compels you to do so.

     In 1997, the International Association of Firefighters and International Association of Fire Chiefs created the Joint Wellness-Fitness Initiative as a guide for individual departments to develop a comprehensive wellness program for their members.  The word holistic is used at least 5 times in this document to include a mind-body-spirit approach to wellness.  However, this initiative is most likely not standard in every firehouse in the country, and it is time to breathe life into this document.  The ILFFPS is in the early stages of creating an Holistic Wellness Initiative that aims to provide fire service members with educational resources they can implement to live a more balanced life. 

Firefighter Behavioral Health of Illinois

 

     So why call this a roundtable of Reality?  The following video conveys not only the reality of our profession, but also the reality of what this calling heaps upon us.

 

 

A Year of Healing Gracefully

Dear Readers,

     It has been over a year now since I took the first step towards healing from PTSD, and I want to share with you some lessons learned.  I will start from where I was, to where I am now.  I can most certainly say that this has truly been an amazing year of healing gracefully.  Here are my thoughts as written during the magic of 4 a.m.

     It was in April of last year that I hit my low point with PTSD, although I did not know it was an issue I carried with me for over 16 years.  Once I was shown the light it became very clear that I needed help to heal.  At the time of my epiphany (so to speak), I hated mankind in general and it was a real struggle for me to sort out or recognize the good from the not so good.   It did not matter to me because most people were being lumped into the bad category, and this ran counter to the oath I swore to serve others in need.  This inner turmoil is what I believe caused me the most pain.

     I have extensively chronicled my healing journey in this blog so it does not bear repeating.  After a combination of counseling, acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage therapy, exercise, nutrition response testing, meditation, and now Kundalini yoga; here are my greatest lessons learned:

1.      PTSD is something not to be taken lightly as it can be an all-consuming social anxiety disorder.  In order to effectively heal from the wounds, one must make the concerted effort at creating a self-care (wellness) plan.  An individual must take this first step forward because no one is going to do it for you.  My advice is to seek treatment before you are compelled to by either the courts or an employer.

 

 

 

2.      Once one makes the decision to become well, know that recovery is not an easy task and will require daily effort on your part.  It takes great courage to make a trip around the dark side of the moon and face the demons of your past.  More than likely you will find out that it was not just one specific incident, but rather a lifetime of micro-traumas that lead to the erupting volcano inside your mind.

3.      Seeking help should not be viewed as a sign of weakness or social stigma.  In fact, the more you share your story with others, the easier it becomes to tell with poise and dignity.

4.      PTSD is not going to just go away, and it will be a life- long journey to maintain this peaceful state of mind.  I realize that I stand on a very narrow ledge between a balanced life and jumping back in to the throws of PTSD.  Hence, why I continue with acupuncture and have added meditation, yoga, and nutrition response testing to my regimen.  Just when I think I have faced everything that has caused me pain, something else seems to creep up from the basement of my mind. However, I now tackle these issues one at a time, on more rooted ground.

5.      As a first responder, I still work within a stressful environment that can exacerbate the symptoms of my PTSD, and these hits will keep on coming as long as I wear the uniform.  The only difference between then and now, are the arsenal of tools I possess that help me to cope.

 

6.      It is paramount to journal your healing experience (s) for two reasons.  First, it helps you to purge the most painful moments in your life.  Second, you have a written record of these events that can be shared when you pay it forward and help others in kind.

7.      This last lesson is not really a lesson at all, but rather a gift.  After a year of healing I am once again beginning to recognize who is a good soul in this world (my healers would fall under this category).  To me, a good soul is someone who uses their God-given talent in the service of others, with no other agenda other than to do just that-serve others. This applies to not only wellness practitioners, but also the general public-at-large.  If I come into contact with someone who runs contrary to this belief, I now show compassion rather than contempt, because they may be suffering from his/her own inner struggle(s) that are not recognizable to me.  I must constantly remind myself “Who am I to judge another?”  This type of inner dialogue will also take a life-long, thoughtful effort

Today, on this Memorial Day let us pause and remember those who have given their lives in the service of others, because it is their sacrifices that have led to our freedom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

     In closing, know that living with PTSD is not the end of the world, and some suffer more greatly than others.  However, with treatment, a detailed wellness (self-care) plan, and a solid circle of support, you too, can navigate life’s obstacles with grace while firmly grounded to this Earth.  If you can move yourself from the dark back into the light, nothing will be impossible. Life will no longer seem impossible.

     The following song represents (to me) the battle between unresolved trauma and the quest for a peaceful state of mind.  It is dedicated to those who suffer from PTSD, but are willing to share their struggles in order to provide hope to those facing similar circumstances.  We must all learn from each other as this is an awesome way to make the world a better place to live.  

 

 

 

 

A Florian Life

Saint Florian

     Saint Florian, the patron of firefighters, is often depicted in artwork as a Roman soldier who is pouring water over fire. Florian, a member of the Roman Army, was charged with developing and training soldiers whose sole mission was to fight fires.  Thus, the first firefighting brigades were born (2015).  For more details on the life of this saint, I direct you to the reference section of this entry.  So what is it like to follow in the footsteps of Florian?

 

 

     First responders (fire, EMS, police, Red Cross, etc.) are called upon at a moment’s notice to aid others in need.  When citizens dial 911 it is usually because they are not having a good day.  We are subjected to the horrors of human suffering and without a doubt, in my personal experience, absorb the emotions of a particular scene.  This cycle repeats itself shift after shift, and year after year.  Over the course of a 20+ year career, this takes a toll on both our physical and mental well-being, which brings me to the point of this posting: three.

     Every first responder will always remember his/her top three calls that most profoundly affected their psyche.  Last year, I shared with you my number one: the witnessed suicide of my co-worker and friend.  Today, I leave you with number two which I call:

March Sadness

     “It was an exceptionally quiet shift one Sunday in March of 1995, until the alarm sounded for the four year old child not breathing.  When we pulled up to the scene, I opened the ambulance door and noticed a woman running towards me with a small child in her arms.  She looked at me and pleaded, “Please save my baby!”, and placed her in my arms.  While carrying her to the back doors of our “mobile hospital”, I stared into her lifeless eyes and knew that her soul had left her.

     Once in the back of the ambulance, I placed her on the cot, confirmed that she had no pulse, was not breathing, and immediately began CPR. Her little frame gave way to the weight of my body pushing down on her upper torso.  Meanwhile, my partner placed the EKG electrodes on her tiny chest, I stopped compressions momentarily, and together we confirmed that she had a cardiac rhythm known as asystole or flat line.  I resumed my efforts at resuscitation while a small flexible tube was inserted into her delicate trachea (windpipe) to assist with breathing.  An intravenous line was started and drugs were introduced into her circulatory system. The alternating sequence of CPR and drug therapy continued while enroute to the emergency room. Even though the ambulance raced to the hospital, time passed slowly, as a five minute ride seemed like fifteen.

     Upon arrival to the emergency department, our patient’s heart began to spontaneously beat, and I felt a weak pulse in her limp wrist.  Over the next twenty minutes, the emergency room staff fought valiantly to preserve this tiny patient’s life, and I could no longer bear to watch this scene.  I walked outside, sat down on the back step of the ambulance, and buried my head into my hands in despair.  For several minutes I searched for an answer as to why this innocent soul was subjected to this kind of fate, and came up empty.  As we left the hospital, I carried with me the horrific image of this fragile human being connected to every tube possible known to modern medicine.  Our patient was transferred to a pediatric hospital that could more aggressively manage her condition, and died thirteen hours later. I can no longer remember her face (I do remember her name), but I will never forget those lifeless blue eyes”.

9/11

     Leading a Florian life is a time honored tradition that calls upon duty, honor, and courage to those who answer this calling.  While this profession has tested the endurance of my spirit at times, I wouldn’t trade it for anything else in this world.  In over 20 ½ years it has been, and still continues to be the greatest privilege to serve those in need.  Thank you Saint Florian for blazing the trail.

 

Reference

St. Florian. (2015). Wikipedia. Retrieved May 15th, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Florian

A Life of Peace (of Mind)

     Peace: freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; tranquility; serenity (dictionary.com, 2015). One of many definitions of the word peace.

     Last week, I went to bed thinking about the topic for my next blog post and as usual, the magic of 4 a.m. showed me the way.  In the wee hours of that morning, I had thoughts about St. Francis of Assisi, who is the “patron saint for ecologists- a title honoring his boundless love for animals and nature” (biography.com, 2015).  One may be thinking at this point-What does St. Francis have to do with peace of mind?  While researching his biography, I came across interesting facts about this man which will hopefully, connect the dots to this week’s theme.

St. Francis and the animals

     Biography.com notes that Francis (Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone) was born into the life of luxury in Assisi around 1181 A.D. (2015).  His father was a cloth merchant and a man of great wealth.  Consequently, Francis was without want (2015).  In fact, during his early teenage years, young Francis was surrounded by wine, women, and song and by early accounts was considered a sinner.  Around the year 1202, Francis joined the cavalry and fought in a war against Perugia where most, if not all of his comrades in arms were killed.  Because Francis came from great wealth and would command a decent ransom, he was imprisoned for over a year before his father could negotiate his release.  It was during that time, that Francis’s life changed forever as he reported having seen visions of God (2015).

St. Francis receives the Stigmata

     Upon his return to Assisi, Francis was a different person: one whose mind and body were scarred by the ravages of an unsuccessful campaign against Perugia.  Francis was described as a shell-shocked soldier (the current terminology being PTSD).  It was during a time of deep prayer at the church of San Damiano that Francis answered the call of Christ to rebuild the Christian church and live a life of poverty (and he did just that).  Those who knew him felt that he had become mentally ill due to the war and was merely suffering from hallucinations.  Undeterred by his detractors, Francis preached the word of God, lived in nature amongst the poor, and even preached to the animals.  In the year 1224, Francis had a vision and during that moment, he was conferred the stigmata (holy wounds of Christ).  Francis carried out his life’s mission until his death on October 3^rd, 1226 at the age of 44 (2015).

     So how does this all tie into a life of peace (of mind)?  The way I see it, St. Francis lived through a chaotic period in his life and suffered from PTSD as a result.  He overcame his struggles with a renewed sense of purpose by following the direction that his life had taken him.  It is my belief that St. Francis had achieved “peace of mind” by answering the call to slow down, commune with nature, and serve his fellow human beings.

     We, like St. Francis, live in chaotic times and all one needs to do to confirm this is to watch the evening news.  Many of us have lived through several wars (dating back to WWII), September 11^th, and are employed in stressful occupations that have disrupted our psycho-emotional balance.  One way we can achieve our own peace of mind is to follow the lead of St. Francis.  So, if you ever have an inkling that you are stuck in a vicious circle, but life seems to be leading you in a different direction, I encourage you to explore these new possibilities.  Sometimes, it is the third act in life that is the most rewarding.

Be well and stay safe,

Tim

References

Peace. (2015). The Dictionary.com website. Retrieved May 04, 2015, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/peace.

St. Francis of Assisi. (2015). The Biography.com website. Retrieved May 04, 2015, from http://www.biography.com/people/st-francis-of-assisi-21152679.

In a Connected World Such as Ours, Why the Big Disconnect?

The other day a friend and I had a conversation about how much the fire service, and life in general has changed because of technology.  He shared with me a quote he saw on Facebook: “We live in the most connected, yet disconnected world.  Why is that?”  I thought about this afterwards and realized how it all began:

Telegraph, telephone, radio, television (with rabbit ears), satellite, and cable.  Telstar, Atari, Nintendo, Gameboy, Xbox, and Wii. Desktop computers, laptop, internet, cell phone, Smartphone, and Wi Fi hotspots.  AOL, MySpace, Facebook, instant messaging, texting, and Twitter.

Ugh . . . try saying all that in one breath.  We truly are the most connected society in the world, both good and bad.  So why the big disconnect?

     I remember growing up as kid where we would be outside all day (save for inclement weather) and the only time we reported home was for lunch and dinner.  From sun up to sun down, it was the norm of the times to soak up as much Vitamin D as possible on those bright, sunny, summer days.  If it rained, we stayed in and played board games, talked about life, or tormented our younger siblings.  There was also a time when neighbors sat on each other’s porches into the wee hours of the morning and just BS’d about everything while trying to solve the pressing issues of the day.  Our technologically advanced world has changed all this, which leads to my next case in point.

     Recently, I worked a night overtime shift and noted the most curious, but not surprising thing.  Five of us sat in the dayroom chairs with the TV on and nobody watching or speaking to each other.  Why?  Because 4 out of the 5 had their attention consumed with the latest text or Facebook posting on their smartphones.  After about an hour of this disconnect, I retired to my cube to read and then go to bed.  This is the new normal, not only in the fire service, but also society at large.  We have so immersed ourselves into the world of instant information that one of our most essential life skills is slowly eroding: basic interpersonal communication.

     An individual can have 1000 Facebook friends, yet fail to recognize that someone he/she works or lives closely with is having difficulty navigating life’s obstacles.  We can also spend hours on end perusing the World Wide Web (I am guilty of this) planning our next adventure, all the while the relationships around us are crumbling because we fail to do one simple thing: communicate with someone without hiding behind a text or an email.  For example, think about how many times you have been in a restaurant and witnessed and an entire group seated at a table not conversing with each other because they were texting or talking to someone else not present that day.

     As I said in an early post, it is our fundamental duty as a member of the human race to leave this world a little better off than we found it ( even if it is just in some small way).  This begs the question: How can we do this if we don’t pay attention to what’s going on right in front of us?

     Don’t get me wrong, I think our advanced technology is a wonderful thing and has contributed to solving many a local, national, or world crisis.  However, I believe that in order to effect meaningful change we must do so on a more personal level.  Let’s start with at least one planned night a week to unplug from the world and just live in the moment at hand.  Substitute computer, smartphone, and TV time with meditation, yoga, a walk in the park, or a one-on-one conversation with a loved one or significant other that is devoid of outside distractions. If we are successful, maybe we can extend it two and so on.

     Ultimately, we crave the intimate connection that interpersonal communication provides.  We want to be heard, just maybe not on the global scale that our current technology affords us. As food for thought, I leave you with the commentary of Mr. Jimmy Buffett whose song echoes the sentiments of this post.  Feel free to add to this conversation either for or against my views, as I welcome all who may present.

 

EVERYBODY'S ON THE PHONE (Jimmy Buffett/Peter Mayer/Roger Guth/Will Kimbrough)
MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE, RHYTHM OF A DRUM
SMOKE SIGNALS AND TELEGRAPHS
MADE THE AIRWAYS HUM
BUT THAT’S ALL ANCIENT HISTORY
LIKE BONGS AND LINCOLN LOGS
NO WE’RE LIVING LIKE THE JETSONS
IN A WACKY WIRELESS FOG
TALKIN’ SQUAWKIN’ HAWKIN’
WHO KNOWS IF ANYBODY’S GETTING’ THROUGH
TOASTERS TALK TO CRACKBERRIES
BOSTON TO BOMBAY
TEENAGE SCHEMES ARE MA BELLS DREAMS
AS THE MINUTES TICK AWAY
WE ACT LIKE CRAZY PEOPLE
TALKING TO OURSELVES
CRASHING CARS FOR CONVERSATION
BUT THAT SHIT FLIES OFF THE SHELVES
THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY'S
CRAWLING LIKE AN LA TRAFFIC JAM
CHORUS
EVERYBODY'S ON THE PHONE
SO CONNECTED AND ALL ALONE
FROM THE PIZZA BOY TO SOCIALITE
WE ALL SALUTE THE SATELLITE
WON'T YOU TEXT ME WITH THE MASTER PLAN
YOU'RE LOUD AND CLEAR BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND
I'M A DIGITAL EXPLORER IN ANALOG ROAM
EVERYBODY'S ON THE PHONE
DO YOU REMEMBER DIALING UP
YES, I REMEMBER WELL
NOW I CAN'T GO ANYWHERE
WITHOUT THAT SACRED CELL
I THINK THAT I MIGHT DIE IF I MISS ANYTHING AT ALL
TEXT ME, SEND ME EMAIL, LINK ME UP GIVE ME A CALL
I'M A.D.D. ON AOL AND TRYING TO READ THE WRITING
ON THE WALL
CHORUS
EVERYBODY'S ON THE PHONE
SO CONNECTED AND ALL ALONE
FROM THE PIZZA BOY TO SOCIALITE
WE ALL SALUTE THE SATELLITE
WON'T YOU TEXT ME WITH THE MASTER PLAN
YOU'RE LOUD AND CLEAR BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND
I'M A DIGITAL EXPLORER IN ANALOG ROAM
EVERYBODY'S ON THE PHONE
INSTRUMENTAL

NOW I'M A REAL JUNGLE JUMPER,
I'M A MEGAHERTZ MAN
I SWING FROM TREE TO TREE
ON THE VERY LATEST PLAN
ON THE DOWNLOAD
IN THE DROPOUT ZONES
IN EVERY MAJOR CITY CROSS THE LAND
I GOT BOB MARLEY ON MY RINGTONE
GET UP STAND UP
REACH OUT TOUCH SOMEBODY, MAN

CHORUS
EVERYBODY'S ON THE PHONE
SO CONNECTED AND ALL ALONE
FROM THE PIZZA BOY TO SOCIALITE
WE ALL SALUTE THE SATELLITE
WON'T YOU TEXT ME WITH THE MASTER PLAN
YOU'RE LOUD AND CLEAR BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND
I'M A DIGITAL EXPLORER IN ANALOG ROAM
EVERYBODY'S ON THE PHONE
I'M A DIGITAL EXPLORER IN AN ANALOG FOAM
EVERYBODY'S ON THE PHONE
© 2006 Coral Reefer Music (BMI) & Little Flock Music (BMI) & Alsation Music (BMI) admin by Bug Music & Will Kimbrough Music (BMI) admin by Bluewater Music Inc.

 

In Health and Wellness,

Tim

On Becoming Aware of Awareness

     In my blog post titled What Does it Mean to be Mindful (2/3/15), I described the basic principles of the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program that I was about to participate in.  Eight weeks flew by quickly, and before I knew it the course had come its conclusion.  However, I realized that it was merely the beginning of what will be a life-long practice on becoming aware of awareness.

     During those eight weeks, I learned about the difference between the stress reaction and the relaxation response and how this can affect both our physical and mental well-being (in both positive and negative ways respectively).  Tools such as the body scan, lying down yoga, and sitting meditation were offered as peaceful alternatives to the angry outbursts, insomnia, and physical distress that often accompany both acute and chronic stress.  The key to my success on this recent journey was to ask myself “What is called for in this moment?” and respond accordingly in a non-judgmental way towards myself and others.

 

 

     Additionally, I learned that with greater awareness to how I react when under stress will afford me the opportunity to respond constructively versus destructively, thereby bringing a sense of inner peace that knows no bounds.  The instructors emphasized that we are all not perfect beings and will have occasional hiccups on our quest for a more balanced existence.  The key to success is to maintain, with due diligence, a meditative practice long after the class has ended.  I encourage any of my readers to consider taking the online MBSR course as offered by SoundsTrue  It is by no means easy to take a look at oneself in the mirror, but the rewards can be great if you stick with it.

     As a way of providing insight into the wonderful world of mindfulness, I leave you with the following Q and A that I completed as part of the final course assessment:

What was your primary intention for participating in this course?

My primary intention was to find the tools I needed to help me to reduce my stress levels.  I was drawn to this course as it would show me not a practice, but a way of life.

What outcome were you hoping to achieve by taking this course?

To find out that I have it within me to be non-judgmental about thoughts, feelings, or encounters with others and myself.

Specifically speaking, what did you get out of the program, if anything?

I learned that I am completely capable of navigating through this large, yet seemingly small world of ours with a more balanced and positive outlook on life.

What are the lessons you will take with you as you move beyond this course work?

The greatest gift I can give to myself is to make time each day to retreat into a peaceful corner of my world.  To be able to breathe deeply, and exhale all that does not serve me well.  The more I practice, the more grounded I will become.

What sacrifices did you make? What were the costs to you?

The only real sacrifice was the time that was needed to put into the practice.  This was never an inconvenience for me because I was more than 100% committed to the course and all it was going to offer me.  I always found the time to make time for myself.

What obstacles did you encounter and what did you learn about yourself in working with these obstacles?

I found that I have an active mind which can wander quite frequently.  Many times my mind will craft and outcome to a future event which 99.99999% of the time never came to fruition the way I imagined it.  More often than not, the outcome was way better than I anticipated.  I learned that through careful attending to my feelings and how my body reacts to stressful situations, I can pause and then respond more appropriately to what is before me at that moment.

How will you continue to practice now that this program is over? Be specific!

The meditation practices that I learned in this course are yet more tools to add to my wellness toolbox to aid me in my continued healing from PTSD.  I have taken up the practice of Kundalini yoga which incorporates meditation into this form.  I will continue with my acupuncture treatments where I meditate during the session to strengthen my resolve.  Furthermore, I will show others the MBSR way (as a personal trainer, firefighter, and peer supporter) as a viable, healthy stress reduction alternative.

What additional resources have you been able to identify that are available to you to continue strengthening your practice?

1. The continued practice of Kundalini yoga.

2. Acupuncture

3. Nutrition response testing to help my stressed organs heal.

4. Chiropractic care.

5. I am going to seek out meditation retreats that are in my area to continue this wonderful journey that I have begun in these last 8 weeks.

6. I will participate in the live day of Mindfulness or use one of the previously recorded versions.

Resources

Meleo-Meyer, F. & Santorelli, S. The MBSR Online Course: An 8-Week Training in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction.  Retrieved from http://www.soundstrue.com/store/the-mbsr-online-course-3226.html on 2/3/2015.

 

Peer Supporters are the Ambassadors to Behavioral Health

ILFFPS Logo

Last week, the Illinois Firefighter Peer Support Team (under the guidance of Sarah Gura and Matt Olson) held its third training program at the Illinois Fire Service Institute in Champaign. As a team member, I attended the first day of class and had the honor and privilege of sharing my story with the new group of applicants, and they with me.  Listening to a fellow firefighter’s story has always had a profound effect on me and I learn something different, or confirm what I already knew, each time I go through this experience.  Before I share my observations I want to tell you a little more about our team.

     As Program Director Matt Olson put it: “The ILFFPS was the brainchild of Sarah Gura” (a licensed professional clinical counselor) who recognized a population in the State of Illinois that was underserved in the realm of behavioral health, that being firefighters and their families.  Through the collaborative efforts of Sarah, Matt, and a core group of dedicated firefighters who were passionate about behavioral health, the ILFFPS was born.  The inaugural training was held in April of 2014, and as of this writing the third group of applicants are now team members.  This organization is a work in progress, but continues to grow in strength with each passing day.

     The following Mission Statement and definition of Peer Support are taken directly from our website:

Mission Statement

“To serve the fire service family by providing trained peer supporters who can give confidential, appropriate, and supportive assistance” (ILFFPS, 2015).

Peer Support Defined

“For the intents and purposes of firefighter peer support teams, peer support is defined as a service provided by an individual or group of trained firefighters who respond to firefighters in need- whether that need be a personal or professional concern.  Peer support teams will serve as a helping resource for fire service employees and their families.

Peer support also seeks to help fire service personnel reduce stress and diminish the negative emotional effects of this occupation.  Peer support specifically acknowledges the need to address mental/behavioral health needs for fire service employees and their families.  Our goal is to increase acceptance of this need through the practice of peer support” (ILFFPS, 2015).

     These statements define both the team and its mission.  If you would like more information about us please visit: http://www.ilffps.org/index.html.  That being said, peer support has a much deeper meaning to me, something I confirmed this past Monday.

 

     As each story was laid out on the table (so to speak), I could feel the angst as well as see the tears flow from many of my brother and sister firefighters.  Most of the personal pain was the result of bearing witness to the horrors that our profession often heaps upon us.  However, many related about hardships and traumas that were inflicted upon them long before they entered the fire service (personal history can have a direct bearing on how one will respond to or act out upon, should a future incident of a similar nature strike an emotional cord). Coupled together, it is no wonder why so many of us suffer from behavioral health issues.  As I drove home that day, I reflected on my experience and came to a sudden realization:

    Those of us that make up the team are bound by a common thread that the concept of peer support, or behavioral health for that matter, was not discussed in the firehouse when we began our careers. I can only speak for myself in saying that I wished it had existed when I was a rookie, as it would have saved me a whole lot of emotional and physical turmoil.  If I were a betting man (and I am not), I think most of my fellow team members would echo my sentiments.

     We all learned the hard way, and that is okay.  For it is in these trials and tribulations that we will take our lessons learned and answer the call for help with a sense of confidence and compassion that knows no bounds.  It is our fundamental duty as a member of the human race to leave the world a little better off than we found it, and as peer supporters I believe we will do just that.  It is for these reasons my friends why I say peer supporters are the ambassadors to behavioral health. Not only for the fire service, but for all humankind as well.

 

 

References

Home page of the Illinois Firefighter Peer Support Team.  Retrieved from http://www.ilffps.org/index.html on April 4th, 2015.