Area first responders to receive new mental health training

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) – Area firefighters are getting new training, not for their firefighting skills, but for their sanity. It’s called “Peer Support Training.”

Firefighters need to be in top shape for their jobs. They run into burning buildings and stay safe while they do so. The consequences of how they respond can take a physical and mental toll.

“We focus on our physical health on this job, but in the past we haven’t really considered how important our mental health is,” said Henderson firefighter Shawn Crabtree.

The new peer support training is designed to give firefighters a basic understanding of common behavioral health issues that can affect the fire service, so they can spot them and help each other.

“We’re really trying to take care of our own,” Crabtree said. “Our work is service-oriented, we take care of the community, but this is more of an approach to taking care of ourselves, so that we can be advocates and help members of the city as well.”

The training is from the International Association of Firefighters. They have informed our area first responders that help is available for them.

“That’s kind of an approach for our department: really understanding the resources that are available, putting together a brochure of brochures that if we see someone who needs it, we can give it to someone,” Crabtree said.

The teams say they are excited to have more knowledge so they can help each other a little better.

“We’re a big family here, especially within our teams,” Crabtree said. “We know when someone is having a bad day, but the difference is being able to weigh who is having a bad day and who is struggling and really going through something.”

This class was attended by the Henderson Fire Department, Henderson 911, Evansville Fire Department, Owensboro Fire Department, and Henderson HR.

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