Health and Wellness
Sleep Deprivation: The Continuing Challenge for Fire and EMS
Many U.S. fire and EMS organizations continue to use some variation of the 24-hour shift to provide around-the-clock staffing. For decades, these schedules have been popular…
We Investigate Fires. Why Aren’t We Investigating Firefighter Suicides?
An estimated 200 firefighters die by suicide each year. Maybe that’s accurate. Maybe it isn’t. Show me the data. The uncomfortable truth is that we don’t…
Why Fire Departments Need Fire-Service-Specific Psychological Assessments: A Strategic Imperative for Safety, Readiness, and Retention
Firefighters and EMS professionals operate in environments defined by chaos, trauma, and split-second decision-making. Yet, despite these realities, many departments still rely on psychological assessment tools that were never designed for the fire service—or worse, skip them altogether.
What Makes the Fire Service Psychology Association Different?
Why Fire Service Leaders Need a Dedicated Field of Fire Psychology Most fire service leaders in the U.S. and Canada understand better than anyone that organizational…
After the Call: It’s Not Business as Usual
By: Margaret Gavian, Ph. D, Guest Blogger Lately, I’ve been notified of an onslaught of critical calls happening across the departments I serve – multiple suicides,…
Time to “think outside the box” to develop a standard for psychological services for fire departments
A fire service colleague, J. Gordon Routley, posted this comment in a discussion thread on LinkedIn about developing a standard for psychological services for fire and…
The First Responder Behavioral Health Institute Leads the Way in Addressing the Mental Health Crisis Among First Responders
The First Responder Behavioral Health Institute (FRBHI) is a pioneering organization dedicated to addressing the mental health needs of first responders. Established in 2022 by Joseph Brigandi, a retired fire captain/paramedic who became a licensed professional counselor and psychotherapistat the Counseling Center of Texas, FRBHI aims to provide education, training, and support to ensure the psychological well-being of first responders, be they law enforcement officers, firefighters, or EMS personnel. Today, Brigandi serves as the Clinical Program Director for FRBHI.
How do we build a “House of Mental Health Wellness” for Firefighters and EMS Personnel?
You’re going to have a house built for you. What skilled professionals will you need to build your house? If the house of your dreams is…
The fire service can change but will it regarding post-traumatic stress?
From the battlefields of ancient Greece to modern war zones and fire grounds, society has been on an evolving journey, attempting to grasp the true nature of psychological wounds.
Firefighters and Fire Officers: Register for the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) created the National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer to better understand cancer risk in the fire service. When you join the NFR for Cancer, you share information about your work history, health, and exposures that can pave the way for new health and safety measures. All U.S. firefighters – with or without cancer, active or retired, and any specialty - can join.
Understanding Firefighter Suicide: A Call to Action for the Fire Service
Today’s Firefighters face unique and intense challenges that can significantly impact their mental health. The nature of their work exposes them to traumatic events, physical danger,…
The inspiration to write a blog can come from just about anywhere
I’m often asked why I continue to write and publish on this blog that I started in 2010. I, myself, sometimes wonder about the same thing…