Firefighting is a strenuous and stressful job.
The post-traumatic stress disorder rate among firefighters is estimated to be higher than the rate in the military.
As of Jan. 1, there is a state law in Tennessee that can help firefighters get better while still getting paid.
The James "Dustin" Samples Act honors Samples, a Cleveland, Tennessee firefighter who bravely fought PTSD on the job. When he took his own life in 2020, his department and his family took action.
Last year, legislation was passed that establishes the presumption that PTSD is a work-related injury for firefighters. It also creates a grant to help employers cover the cost of subsequent workers' compensation claims.
"During my career, we didn't have this available to us, and it was basically do your job and be quiet," said Danny Yates, president of the Nashville Firefighters Association.