MHNR Network, LLC
MHNR Network, LLC
Ep010: Jeff Dill - Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance
Ep010: Jeff Dill - Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance
Ep010: Jeff Dill - Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance
Tuesday 19th September 2017
Jeff Dill talks with Stephen Kavalkovich about breaking mental health stigma among firefighters on 'Rescue the Rescuer'.
48 minutes
Informative
Empowering
Hopeful
Compassionate
Supportive
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MHNR Network, LLC
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Categories:
Body & Mind
Mindful Recovery
Family Recovery from Addiction
Policy & Advocacy
Healing from Sexual Trauma
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Get the buttons here!Jeff Dill: Changing the Conversation on Firefighter Mental Health
I was spared for a reason and now, every day, I wake up with the fire inside of me to keep pursuing the purpose of reaching people and trying to break down the walls of misunderstanding and stigma when it comes to the mental health of people in this profession.
Imagine working in a job where every day could be your last. Firefighters and EMTs face this reality, yet their mental health often gets overlooked. Jeff Dill, founder of the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA), is on a mission to change that. In this episode of 'Rescue the Rescuer', host Stephen Kavalkovich sits down with Jeff to discuss the unique mental health challenges faced by first responders.
Jeff's journey began in 2011 when he noticed a glaring gap in mental health support for firefighters. He founded FBHA, the only organization in the U.S. that collects and validates data on firefighter and EMT suicides. Jeff travels across the United States and Canada, holding workshops to raise awareness about behavioral health and suicide prevention among first responders. During their conversation, Jeff and Stephen tackle some tough topics.
They discuss the cultural brainwashing within the fire service that often leads to ignoring personal mental health issues. Jeff emphasizes the importance of doing an 'internal size-up' to address these problems head-on. They also touch on the positive changes happening within the industry, from developing mental health programs for students to preparing for retirement. The episode doesn't shy away from the heavy stuff either.
Jeff talks about the impact of death on firefighters and how COVID-19 has further strained their mental health. But it's not all doom and gloom; there's hope too. Jeff shares stories of resilience and recovery, showing that change is possible. To wrap things up, Jeff promotes FBHA's first charity event, 'Breaking the Silence', aimed at raising funds to support families of firefighters who have died by suicide.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding and supporting the mental health of our everyday heroes.