WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (WSAW) – Firefighting is a physically demanding job, but it’s not just the heavy gear, fast movements, and long shifts that take a toll on first responders. The mental strain of the job is also significant.
“The average citizen experiences one or two very traumatic events in their life. We, as first responders — experience up to a dozen a year at times,” Deputy Chief Ben Goodreau of the Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department said.
Recognizing this challenge, the Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department is prioritizing mental health support for its staff. The department is launching a new initiative to address mental health issues within the firefighting industry.
Goodreau noted that mental health struggles and suicide rates among firefighters across the country have seen a drastic increase in recent years.
To combat the stigma surrounding mental health issues in first responder culture, the department is taking steps to make support more accessible. In addition to mental health check-ups, the department is educating its staff on mental health, recruiting behavioral health professionals to join firefighters on ride-alongs, and fostering a culture where seeking help is encouraged rather than seen as a sign of weakness.
“There’s always this sense of fragility or feeling like you are vulnerable or weak in our profession if you were reaching out for help,” Goodreau said. “What we did was increase that capacity of responder resiliency by offering those services.”
The approach in Wisconsin Rapids is not an isolated effort. Goodreau highlighted that other local agencies, including the Wood Co. Sheriff’s Department, Marshfield Fire Department, and Wausau Fire Department, have also implemented similar programs.
“This isn’t just a trend in the way of something flashy in the pan. This is something that is addressing a real issue in first responder culture,” he said.
