BILLINGS, Mont. Billings Fire Department is working to support their firefighters’ mental health through a peer support program as they work to help keep our community safe.
The peer support program has served hundreds of firefighters for the past 5 years and offers critical incident stress debriefing, peer-to-peer support, and classes to spread awareness about suicide prevention and substance abuse.
Nick Anderson, a firefighter with Billings Fire Department, said that it was his self-realization about the trauma he experienced for last seven years in the field that motivated him to seek help.
“I was with Lockwood Fire for five years before I got on here with Billings Fire and then that entire time I also worked moonlighted as a paramedic on the ambulance for American Medical Response. I was exposed to a lot— a lot of traumas, a lot of sick people, and it just became kind of death by 1000 paper cuts. I started to kind of recognize some things in me… kind of that self-recognition that like maybe I need some help and that’s what kind of drew me to the team,” explained Anderson.
Moreover, he added that the classes he attended as part of the program and the support he received from his peers has helped him immensely to maintain a healthy boundary between his work life and personal life.
“It’s helped me personally in a lot of ways for my own issues and things I deal with daily because it’s not just the job; it’s after the job going home and being with your family and not bringing the stuff that you have here on the job. So, the program has been awesome for me. I know that I can pick up the phone and call several guys in the department and on the team at any time and they’ll answer, and they’ll be there for me,” emphasized Anderson.
Firefighters or first responders interested in learning more about the program can reach out to Josh Schoening with Billings Fire Department at 406-671-7682.
