Arizona EMT, firefighter suicide risk notably higher than that of public
Sep 20, 2018, 6:42 PM
(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
PHOENIX — Emergency medical technicians are the first on scene to help people in need.
But what happens when the EMT is the one who needs help?
The risk for Arizona EMT suicide is 39 percent higher than that of the general public, according to a study by researchers at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.
That number is reflected in firefighter suicides as well. According to the Glendale Fire Department, 16 percent of firefighters attempt suicide, compared to less than 10 percent for the general population.
Additionally, 47 percent of firefighters have had suicidal thoughts.
Being the first to respond to traumatic events is part of the job. But, Glendale fire spokeswoman Ashley Lorsch said, it takes a toll.
“I don’t think we understand the realities of the job until we’re actually holding a baby that’s not breathing in our arms, or pulling a child from a pool, or doing CPR on a loved one, or treating a gunshot wound,” she said.
Increased suicide rates in EMTs are likely related to several factors, including a work environment that includes repeated exposure to tragedies, which contributes to stress, and a culture of not wanting to ask for help, according to a University of Arizona press release.
Lorsch said there are different services and resources available for firefighters contemplating suicide, and Vigil helped create a website to provide educational materials and resources for responders seeking help.
According to the press release, there was an average of nine EMT suicides per year in Arizona between 2010 and 2015.
Lorsch thinks that communication and removing the stigma around mental health could save lives.
“You can’t be afraid to ask for help. You can’t be afraid to reach out,” she said. “Any one of us could reach out to the person sitting next to us on the fire truck that day, and say ‘I need help,’ and I can promise you they’re going to do everything they can to help them.”
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Kathy Cline contributed to this report.
