When you call 9-1-1, there's comfort in knowing someone will respond. We rely on the fact that those responders are calm and capable; but sometimes it isn't enough to be brave. "Suicide is the number one killer of firefighters right now," says licensed clinician, Amy Davenport Dakin. "It's not firefighting; it's not fires; it's suicide."
After struggling with anxiety and depression for years, Maine firefighter and paramedic Chris Desjardins says he was prepared to take his own life in 2018. He loved his job and the people he worked with; he loved his wife and two kids; but something was eating away at him. Chris was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder. According to a report by the International Association of Firefighters, nearly 20% of firefighters suffer from PTSD. What's to blame for that high statistic?