Editor’s note: If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. Nicole Mittendorf (right) and her husband Steve. Mittendorf died by suicide a decade ago.(Courtesy Jennifer Clardy Chalmers) Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger approved a bill Monday night that decriminalizes suicide, abolishing the centuries-old...Read More
By Frank Leto – Most firefighters can name a call they still think about years later. Anyone who has spent time in this work knows that some calls echo long after the sirens stop. Recently, the London Assembly Fire Committee reported that sickness absence within the London Fire Brigade has cost an estimated £84 million since 2021,...Read More
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Blaise Ingoglia on Thursday announced more than $1.4 million in funding for fire departments across the state, expanding ongoing efforts to address cancer risks and mental health challenges among first responders. Speaking at a press conference in Manatee County, Ingoglia said the funding...Read More
Today is the 33rd anniversary of COACH Jim Valvano’s iconic ESPYS speech – a LEADERSHIP message that if you haven’t listened to, please do. It will be amongst the best TEN MINUTES you have ever spent watching a video. We promise you’ll love it-and we never lie. I first heard this ten-minute speech just a year after...Read More
Please mark March 23-27, 2026, for Firefighter-First Responder Wellness Week. Once again, Gordon Graham and Lexipol are hosting the 4th annual Firefighter-First Responder Wellness Week – and you’re invited! This completely NO-COST event features a live webinar each day of the week, shift briefing videos that are perfect for kicking off conversations about wellness, and tons of additional resources from Lexipol and...Read More
Australian firefighter Jimmy Morris raises awareness on men’s mental health, which is an ever-important topic, especially in this digital age that we are living in today. #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos has the scoop. In a post on “The Navy Diver” Instagram page, it stated, “Strength in Numbers… Service leaves its mark — whether it’s worn in...Read More
