In a joined up approach to combating suicides among fire service personnel, The Fire Fighters Charity, Blue Light Card Foundation and fire and rescue services have together launched a new 24 hour service to provide immediate support where any member of the fire service community is having suicidal thoughts.
The Crisis Line is accompanied by a powerful awareness film reflecting on how suicide has no ‘type’, and a suite of online suicide related resources. The Fire Fighters Charity and the National Fire Chiefs Council commissioned research from Nottingham Trent University to understand how mental wellbeing across the service is being impacted by issues such as sleep disruption, occupational stress, burnout, anxiety and depression and its findings have informed the approach.
Dr Jill Tolfrey, Chief Executive of The Fire Fighters Charity, said of the new 24/7 Crisis Line, “Every suicide is a tragedy and by launching our Crisis Line, we can offer specialised support to our beneficiaries. Whatever the time of day, there will be someone on the end of the phone who understands the unique pressures facing those who work in the emergency services, and who can offer the vital support that’s needed in that moment and thereafter, through immediate and ongoing support.”
The Fire Fighters Charity 24/7 Crisis Line number is 0300 373 0896.
www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/safespace
Photo credit: The Fire Fighters Charity.
