Depression and PTSD are significantly more prevalent in police, fire, and EMS workers compared to the general population, highlighting the critical need for support for first responders and their families. Recognizing this reality, former St. Louis Metropolitan Police Sargeant Rich Banahan, with almost fifty years of law enforcement experience, now serves as a law enforcement trainer with Behavioral Health Response. He educates departments across the St. Louis area and other parts of Missouri on strategies to promote mental health and wellness, including his program “Disarming Suicide” that focuses on intervention and prevention measures.
Banahan has personally trained around 350 members of the St. Louis Fire Department, led by Chief Dennis Jenkerson. Throughout the past 15 to 20 years, departments have observed a worrisome increase in suicides and mental health issues among first responders. Factors such as long work hours, time away from home and family, exposure to traumatic events on a daily basis, and external stressors all contribute to the mental health challenges faced by firefighters and EMS workers.
Chief Jenkerson emphasized the importance of supporting the mental health and well-being of STL Fire Department members given the unique challenges they face. The department has established various resources and programs to address mental health concerns, including suicide awareness and prevention initiatives, peer support systems, post-traumatic stress debriefings, and other safety-focused programs for first responders. By prioritizing mental health support and awareness, departments aim to reduce the prevalence of depression and PTSD among police, fire, and EMS workers.