Columbus Local 67: Setting the Standard for Mental Health Care - IAFF (2024)

Columbus Local 67: Setting the Standard for Mental Health Care - IAFF (1)The stigma surrounding behavioral health in the fire service is slowly lifting as affiliates and their fire departments increasingly are recognizing and addressing the need for support and services for members struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, addiction, depression and other mental health conditions.

Columbus, OH Local 67 has been a leader in improving behavioral health care for more than 30 years. Today, these efforts have expanded into a comprehensive and effective program that includes a robust peer support system, partnerships with health care providers and access to the IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery.

When a tragic line-of-duty death rocked Columbus Local 67 more than 30 years ago, the only recourse for many members, says Local 67 President Mark Siemer, was to look at the bottom of a bottle for answers. “Sometimes, it took more than one bottle,” he says. At the time, Siemer was a young recruit at the fire academy. Two years later, after a brush with death during a house fire, Siemer recognized the need for helping members deal with the dangerous realities and traumatic challenges of the job.

Instead of allowing emotions to fester, after-incident support became an opportunity for members to address trauma and helped nurture a culture of understanding. “Having conversations and opening up about emotional and mental well-being doesn’t mean there is something wrong with you,” says Siemer.

One of the first affiliates to form a peer support group, Columbus Local 67 — which was also among the first to participate in the IAFF Peer Support Training program in 2017 (see box) through the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters — now has more than 100 peer support members who help fellow fire fighters work through their behavioral health issues. When calls affect members, providing support can help open a dialogue about issues and feelings that might otherwise go unrecognized and serve as a reminder of the available resources, including treatment options, to address trauma in a preventative and proactive approach to mental health.

The city’s employee assistance program (EAP) is also a tremendous resource. EAP services are available to offer guidance and next steps, no matter what the concern. If a member experiences a challenging call, the EAP can quickly provide services to help work through his/her experiences. If a fire fighter has noticed emotional or behavioral changes related to on-the-job trauma, the EAP can put him/her in contact with peer support specialists or a specialty program. Sessions are private, individualized and completely confidential.

As an extension of its emphasis on behavioral health, the EAP partners with the IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery. Representatives from the EAP spent two days at the Center of Excellence and right away understood that this facility — exclusively for IAFF members — needed to be part of Local 67’s behavioral health program. To date, four Local 67 members have received treatment at the Center for conditions including post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that can build over the course of a career.

The EAP helps members identify need for treatment at the Center of Excellence and provides the resources to get it — whether by arranging transportation to the facility in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, accommodating leave or confidentially arranging treatment.
“Local 67 has a strong working relationship with the fire administration and EAP,” says Local 67 Vice President Ryan Sweetman. “Without this collaborative effort, we would be behind the eight-ball when it comes to getting needed services to our members.”

Simply knowing about the resources available can help members understand that they aren’t alone and encourage them to seek life-changing assistance when necessary.
By providing a comprehensive and progressive behavioral health program, Columbus Local 67 is setting a standard for mental health care that can help transform members, their families and communities.

Peer Support

Research shows that peer support programs are an effective method for providing support. The IAFF Peer Support Training program, initiated in 2016, teaches members about common behavioral health problems that impact members in the fire service, how to provide one-on-one peer support and how to develop or enhance a peer support program.

The program was designed to develop a cadre of peers who can identify with the professional struggles fire fighters and paramedics face following traumatic events and to connect distressed members to appropriate services when needed.

Peer support helps fire fighters get confidential support from other IAFF members who are trained to provide assistance and build trust.

After completing the IAFF training, trained peers have the knowledge and skills to provide support to their fellow fire fighters, serve as a bridge to behavioral health services and community resources and help build or enhance other peer support programs.

The training includes a two-hour online behavioral health awareness course, which is a prerequisite for the two-day onsite training. Each training session typically accommodates 30 students. Additional courses tied to peer support are under development, including a resiliency course, a recovery mentor course, a disaster response course and a clinician course.

For more information, contact the IAFF Health and Safety Department at (202) 737-8484.

About the Center of Excellence

The IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery is a one-of-a-kind treatment facility specializing in the behavioral health needs of IAFF members. More than 900 IAFF members struggling with addiction, post-traumatic stress,
complicated grief and other related behavioral health challenges have already come to the Center and taken the first steps toward recovery.

The Center provides a safe haven for members to talk with other brothers and sisters who have faced or overcome similar challenges. Created through an innovative partnership with Advanced Recovery Systems (ARS), the IAFF Center of Excellence is a flagship recovery center exclusively for IAFF members.

Treatment at the IAFF Center of Excellence uses cognitive processing therapy (CPT), an evidence-based psychotherapeutic treatment that is supported by research and is demonstrated to be effective in reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress. The treatment team uses a multidisciplinary approach — combining the expertise of doctors, nurses and clinicians from different disciplines — so the whole person is treated, not just the addiction or co-occurring disorder.

Located just outside Washington, DC, in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, the 15-acre facility includes a pool, basketball court, gym and comfortable residential accommodations for up to 64 clients.

Learn more at www.iaffrecoverycenter.com or call (855) 900-8437.

Columbus Local 67: Setting the Standard for Mental Health Care - IAFF (2024)

FAQs

Columbus Local 67: Setting the Standard for Mental Health Care - IAFF? ›

One of the first affiliates to form a peer support group, Columbus Local 67 — which was also among the first to participate in the IAFF Peer Support Training program in 2017 through the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters — now has more than 100 peer support members who help fellow fire fighters work through ...

Why is mental health important in the fire service? ›

An increasing number of firefighters die by suicide, experiencing mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress, contracted from exposures they suffered while delivering emergency services to the public.

How many fire stations are there in Columbus, Ohio? ›

The Columbus Division of Fire - is geographically divided into seven (7) Battalions, which includes 32 Stations, 34 Engine Companies, 16 ladders, 32 EMS (Advanced Life Support Transport Units) 5 Heavy Rescues, 8 Rescue Boats.

What is one of the biggest threats to the mental health of fire fighters? ›

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is among the most significant mental-health issues facing fire service professionals. Firefighters are exposed to traumatic events on a regular basis, and this can lead to symptoms of PTSD such as flashbacks and difficulty sleeping.

What are the mental demands of a firefighter? ›

Ability to face exposure to infectious agents such as hepatitis B or HIV. Ability to face life or death decisions during emergency conditions. Ability to be exposed to grotesque sights and smells associated with major trauma and burn victims.

What is the busiest fire station in Columbus Ohio? ›

Columbus Fire Station Number Two is the busiest one in Columbus … and in 2001, it also was voted the busiest in the nation. The original station, located at the intersection of E Fulton and S High streets, was built in 1859 and has undergone many changes since that time.

What is the biggest fire station in USA? ›

The New York City Fire Department is the largest municipal fire department in both North America, and the Western Hemisphere, and the second largest in the world after the Tokyo Fire Department. The FDNY employs over 11,000 uniformed firefighting employees, 4,274 uniformed EMS employees, and 2,096 civilian employees.

What is the busiest fire station in Ohio? ›

(Toledo, OH) A Toledo fire department station is one of the busiest in the nation. "Firehouse Magazine" ranks Toledo's Station Six at Oak and Fassett streets in East Toledo as the busiest in Ohio with more than eleven-thousand calls for help last year.

Why is mental health important for first responders? ›

First responders are expected to prepare for, respond to and mitigate serious situations they often cannot predict, which can lead to lingering mental health challenges (e.g., depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideation and alcoholism) on and off the job.

Why are mental health services important? ›

Mental health services also reduce the risk of chronic diseases related to stress, anxiety and substance abuse. Most importantly, mental health services save lives, while improving the outlook for people who may feel hopeless and lost.

Why is mental health important for officers? ›

Incidences of child abuse, suicide, domestic violence, officer-involved shootings, and more can be a regular part of the job. Over time, it takes a toll. Whether you serve in a law enforcement, court, or corrections setting, understanding the challenges police officers face is vital to deepening your impact.

Why is it important to manage stress as a firefighter? ›

If not resolved, stress can impact your physical and mental well-being. Having to choose between work, family, or other priorities can become a long-term stressor. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Last Updated:

Views: 6636

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (56 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Birthday: 1998-02-19

Address: 64841 Delmar Isle, North Wiley, OR 74073

Phone: +17844167847676

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: LARPing, Kitesurfing, Sewing, Digital arts, Sand art, Gardening, Dance

Introduction: My name is Amb. Frankie Simonis, I am a hilarious, enchanting, energetic, cooperative, innocent, cute, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.