Helping a Member in Need
For a Member in Crisis
Firefighter & Family Crisis and Support Line
(844) 525- FIRE (3473)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
(800) 273-8255
Crisis Services Canada
(833) 456-4566
Text: 45645
Signs a Member Needs Help
Signs that may indicate a member is experiencing a behavioral health problem or crisis include:
- Poor work performance
- Disinterest in work or performance feedback
- Recurring mood swings or irritability
- Noticeable increase or decrease in weight or appetite
- Reported sleep problems, observable grogginess
- Recurring absences or unexcused absence
- Less talkative at kitchen table or around the fire station
- Difficulty interacting with other crew members
- Disappearing or isolating for large parts of the shift
- Crew feedback that the member seems different or is struggling
- Drastic, sudden changes in one’s living situation or relationships at home
- Recurring financial problems or debt
- Increased need for privacy around cell phone usage
- Bloodshot eyes, pinpoint pupils or alcohol odor
- Poor hygiene or noticeable changes in physical appearance
- Observed dissatisfaction, apathy or cynicism towards the job, the crew or life
Warnings a Member is Suicidal
While symptoms of a behavioral health problem are not always obvious, suicide warning signs are clear behavioral, emotional or interpersonal cues that a member is at immediate risk to attempt suicide:
- Talking about or feeling hopeless, trapped or having no reason to live
- Talking or thinking about wanting to die
- Talking about or feeling unbearable pain
- Researching or planning ways to kill oneself
- Talking about or feeling like a burden to others
- Talking about or feeling a lack of belonging
- Calling people to say goodbye
- Giving away prized possessions
- Abandoning social, occupational and daily activities
- Severe and sudden changes in sleep, substance use, and mood
If a member is displaying any of the signs above, he/she should be escorted to a mental health provider, emergency room or accompanied during a call to an accredited crisis hotline immediately.
While an admission to the Center of Excellence can usually be facilitated within one to three days, if your member is suicidal, he or she needs immediate local medical attention. Admission to the Center of Excellence can be coordinated once the member is in a safe place.
Interventions
If a member is showing any of the signs listed above, it is your responsibility to intervene. The member may just need to talk, need a few days off to deal with a family matter or may be struggling with a serious mental health or substance abuse problem that needs attention.
Your relationship with the member may dictate how you choose to intervene. Options include:
- Ask the member privately, “I’ve noticed some changes in you lately. How are you doing?”
- Ask your peer support team leader to check in with the member
- Ask another crew member who is friendly with member how they the member is doing
- Refer the member to your department clinician or EAP
- Consider referring the member for a fit-for-duty evaluation
Treatment at the COE
Individuals typically seek residential treatment when symptom stabilization is not achieved at a lower level of outpatient care. In some cases, however, residential treatment is clinically indicated when there is no prior treatment history.
When a member’s work, family, home, or social life is severely impaired by symptoms or behavior, residential treatment may be a good choice. Residential treatment can also provide an added layer of anonymity that is difficult to achieve at a local treatment facility.
In addition, data show that IAFF members are more willing to seek treatment at the Center of Excellence compared to a general population facility. In a survey of IAFF members who were treated at the Center of Excellence, 68 percent reported they would not or probably would not have sought treatment if they could not have attended treatment in a setting exclusively for fire fighters.