“I have no idea how to help. I don’t know what to say, I don’t know what to do. I just … all that I can do is be there. But in the background, we have two kids screaming. […] It’s like I can only be in one place at one time. It’s like I’m pulled in two different directions, so not really having the skills or knowledge or anything with how to help him other than to just be there and listen and love him through it.”
At the end of a shift, first responders can remove the weight of their gear and uniform but, for many, it’s their thoughts – the lingering images and sounds of a call – that are the heaviest part of the job. The impact of an incident isn’t reserved to a firehouse or police station, and there are others who indirectly help bear the mental burden at home. While they may have never stepped foot on a scene, fought a fire, or administered first aid, parents, spouses, friends, and family must often help a first responder process their thoughts and feelings, though they may feel unequipped to do so.
In this episode, former paramedic/firefighter and host Phil Klein sits down with Jenna, whose late husband Sam served as a first responder for nearly 10 years before taking his life in 2017. Jenna recalls Sam’s big heart, unwavering dedication to serving others, love of being in the field, and the mental health struggles that ultimately came with that love, in hope of advancing the conversation regarding first responders’ mental health and normalizing that it’s ok to ask for help.
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