"Firefighters helping firefighters and their families"
Support: CALL/TEXT (855) JFD-PEER
Crisis: Upper Room Crisis Line CALL/TEXT (888) 808-8497
Clinicians: CALL/TEXT (815) 353-3122
The JFPSG Adapted Emergency Management Model for Firefighter Mental Health
Center Phoenix & Green Maltese Cross – The center phoenix signifies the ability of firefighters and their families to recover from mental health disorders and traumatic stress effects. The green Maltese cross is a common symbol of the fire service. Green is the color of mental health awareness.
Distress tolerance refers to the ability to withstand the effects of traumatic stress reactions. Coping & resilience refer to the ability to "bounce back" after an event has occurred. They are both important concepts in the emergency management process.
Prevention, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation are the accepted and repeated steps in the emergency management process, which have been adapted for use in firefighter mental health.
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has identified five pillars to emergency managementThey. The may be applied to firefighter mental health to produce a new way of looking at the prevention and management of mental health issues and traumatic stress reactions in the fire service.
JFPSG Mission and Vision Statements
JFPSG Mission Statement
The Joliet Firefighters Peer Support believes that the path to Joliet Firefighter mental and emotional health begins with firefighters, clinicians, clergy, and public officials working together to provide support, education, and connection to resources to our firefighters and their families. The public can depend on firefighters. Firefighters can depend on their peer support network.
JFPSG Vision Statement
A Fire Department where all Joliet Firefighters and their families are holistically cared for by their peer network regarding all forms of mental and emotional health.
People Who Care
We are a volunteer organization that has the best interest of firefighters in mind. Our firefighters have been trained to the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Peer Support standards and are prepared to provide quality peer support.
Common Challenges for First Responders
Suicide
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
Suicide in the fire service has reached alarming proportions, surpassing line of duty deaths (LODD) in firefighters. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there were 48 firefighter LODD in 2019. Compare this to 119 firefighter suicides.
Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
SUD is a common issue within the first responder community. Current research suggests that those in fire service engage in binge drinking at almost double the rate of the general public. Other issues include improper use of depressants and stimulants.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD has reached epidemic proportions in the fire service. Symptoms include intrusion, avoidance, negative cognition and mood, and alteration in arousal response. There are effective treatments for this disorder.
Depression
Sleep Disorders
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Firefighters experience depressive disorders at more that twice the rate of the general public (17% vs 7%). Depression is highly treatable. There are resources available to help.
Family Issues
Sleep Disorders
Sleep Disorders
The firefighter is not the only one affected by this career choice. Spouses, partners, significant others, children and even parents can all face challenges.
Sleep Disorders
Sleep Disorders
Sleep Disorders
Ask mental health professionals and they will tell you that everything is related to sleep. Many mental health (and physical) issues can be negatively affected by poor sleep.
Divorce
Prevention
Wellness
Divorce can be a very stressful event in a firefighter's life. The Joliet Firefighters Peer Support Group has clinicians who specialize in pre-divorce couples and family counseling as well as post-divorce support.
Wellness
Prevention
Wellness
Wellness is a critical element in the resiliency process. There are many dimensions to wellness including physical, spiritual, emotional, and social.
Prevention
Prevention
Prevention
The JFPSG has adapted the FEMA Emergency Management MOdel to that of wellness. Elements include prevention, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation.
Our Peer Supporters
Additional Information
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Mission statements – You can tell a lot about a company by its mission statement. Don’t have one? Now might be a good time to create one and post it here. A good mission statement tells you what drives a company to do what it does.
Company policies – Are there company policies that are particularly important to your business? Perhaps your unlimited paternity/maternity leave policy has endeared you to employees across the company. This is a good place to talk about that.
Executive profiles – A company is only as strong as its executive leadership. This is a good place to show off who’s occupying the corner offices. Write a nice bio about each executive that includes what they do, how long they’ve been at it, and what got them to where they are.
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