Perspectives on Leadership: Building a System for Firefighter Mental Health

<p>Firefighter mental health cannot rest entirely on the individual. In this episode of Perspectives on Leadership, Deputy Chief Stephen Shaw talks with Dr. Kellie O’Dare, research associate professor and deputy executive director at UCF RESTORES, about suicide prevention, mental health, and the role fire departments play in supporting their members.</p><p>O’Dare discusses research connecting 30 years of Florida Department of Health data with firefighter certification records and explains what that data can tell us about suicide risk in the fire service. She also introduces the Zero Suicide Framework, a seven part approach that gives organizations a framework for supporting firefighters throughout their careers, including the transition into retirement.</p><p>Shaw and O’Dare discuss practical ways departments can move beyond good intentions and build mental health support into the organization itself. They also talk about coping strategies, work-life balance, communication, stigma, and creating a culture where firefighters can ask for help before reaching a crisis point.</p><p>Perspectives on Leadership is produced by Fire Engineering, devoted to the training interests of firefighters since 1877.</p><p>This episode is brought to you by The Fire Store: <a href="http://thefirestore.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">TheFireStore.com</a></p>