Final Video for Fire/EMS Mental Health Issues Released

As we wrap up our series “When the Smoke Clears,” our four-part video series highlighting the need to tackle mental health issues of first responders, this latest episode talks about what to look for in yourself and your teammates that might indicate some help is needed. Anger, isolation and excess emotion all can appear when a mental crisis begins to take hold, and this episode provides some examples of “red flags” that can appear before a crisis spirals out of control.

Life in the firehouse is comprised of a very tight-knit community, and routines are typical for all the men and women who are on the job. It could be changes to those patterns that are clear indicators that trouble is brewing, and some conversations may need to happen. If a person begins to remove himself/herself from group settings (firehouse dinners, meetings, etc.), that could lead to riskier behavior down the road. Leaders should look for responders yelling at their teammates more than usual or appearing sad or tired all the time. To be a good teammate, being a good observer is key. Pay attention to the well-being of the people next to you, and they should be paying close attention to your overall health as well.

“When the Smoke Clears” just scratches the surface of the complex environment of mental stress in the public safety field. However, our sincere hope is we can eliminate these barriers and talk openly about a real problem facing first responders today. The brotherhood and family atmosphere of the fire/EMS field offer so many advantages, and it takes this strong support system to help one overcome a mental crisis that develops from the experiences we see and feel through the job. We need healthy firefighters and medics, and that includes being a mentally healthy person. It’s your job and your commitment to be the best you can be, for yourself, your family and your community.

If you have ideas on other topics to cover in a future episode of “When the Smoke Clears,” please reach out to our Public Affairs office via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

You can watch all four episodes of the series on the IDHS YouTube channel or online on the IDHS website.