Tuesday, February 14, 2012 February 13, 2012
Press Release
 
CONTACT
Peggy Sweeney
The Sweeney Alliance
830.377.7389
peggy@sweeneyalliance.org
sweeney-alliance.org/grievingbehindthebadge/
 
The Sweeney Alliance Offers e-Newsletter for Firefighters, Their Families, and Department Chaplains
 
Peggy Sweeney, the Sweeney Alliance President, Kerrville, TX
 
The emotional health and wellness of firefighters is at risk! Constant exposure to life-threatening and highly stressful events is affecting them physically, mentally, and emotionally. Suicide, divorce, substance abuse, and heart attacks rates among firefighters are the highest in the nation. Furthermore, the rate of 16 to 24 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the fire service is well above the national average (seven to nine percent). It is well established that firefighters are impacted by critical incident stress. Also, suicides within the fire service community continue to escalate at an alarming rate.
 
The Sweeney Alliance, a leader in educational resources and community service projects addressing the emotional needs of adults and children since 1992, has developed and implemented the Grieving Behind the Badge program to meet the needs of emergency responders who cope with traumatic stress and grief in their professional as well as their personal lives.
 
Peggy Sweeney, bereavement educator, author, and president of the Sweeney Alliance, will launch the Grieving Behind the Badge eNewsletter March 1st. Articles and resources for emergency responders by emergency responders. Don’t miss a single issue! Sign up for our free Grieving Behind the Badge e-Newsletter by visiting sweeney-alliance.org/grievingbehindthebadge