yo bro; yeah I was thinking the same thing myself so here we are....I did 26 years iaff professional and the union dumped me faster than a wink...the city could not get me out fast enough...city and union wanted no part of me...total denial....vietnam vet rescued me...otherwise...would have suicided....another partner up situation where an ex brit army type took me under his wing....he was ptsd from N. Ireland....we met in the bush.....one late day ... and did bushwalking for two and a half years sorting our kit and head space out under arms.....that was more theraputic and we found common ground from both our military backgrounds....also 3 years of intense therapy with emdr and cognitive behavioural therapy .......where to from here...??
OK...working with the National Fallen Fire Fighter Foundation.....phoned them two weeks back and basically asked them why the suicide in the fire service thing has not been addressed....? Enough to say.....that I have been asked to sit in on a meeting to be held in the near future in new york....ok got that part.....now.....there is a chap named Jimmy Brown Ex NYFD who went out on a limb and did a campaign for men called "REAL MEN, REAL DEPRESSION" for NIMH along with some other men. Talked to Jimmy in Florida.....and the NIMH people are getting some information together for me to use at the conference......we are going to tackle this head on.....one firefighterveteran at a time....I know you are in for this ....your not alone bro.....keep punching....I will in the meantime refer those who I may stumble across to chat you up in this forum if needs be. Engine 913 got it right in that our web stats show us we are impacting that is why I am doing this....67 thousand hits from May of 2006 to Nov of 07 and then crashed the site to re format..then from Jan 1 of 2008 to Feb 14 some 7000 hits. OK so we are on target....The message is simple: F.I.R.S.T. S.T.E.P. H.O.P.E.
Use the on line presence to talk it out while you have someone on the phone and work their way with them through the site.....if they are suicidal.....refer them to the 911 system or eafp or clergy....you know how that goes...but the information on line is designed to be used by someone like yourself bro....who can direct the person and talk to them while they are looking at the literature on line.....it extends your ability to reach out....that is why I did it that way.....so work the front lines and lets save by the power of one......
Just had an phone call from the NIMH they are sending out 50 posters with Jimmy's mug on them .... will let you know and send you a copy of all the literature....meantime must dash...
cheers....thanks for being the buldog on this......talk to me....shannon pennington ptsd firefighterveteran NAFFVN....care for the caregivers 250-812-3737