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Mental Health Awareness Month: Size-Up vs. Internal Size-Up

 Doug Dehaven    May 1, 2021    No Comments

Size-Up vs. Internal Size-Up 

Which is easier?

By Jeff Dill, founder of Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA)

Dispatch, Engine 36 is on the scene of a large two-story residential with smoke and flames from the second floor, A sector. Engine 36 will be in the offensive mode, going interior with a deuce and a half performing a search/rescue and fire extinguishment. Engine 36 will be command. All arriving units switch to fire ground B upon arrival.

Sound familiar? If you are in the fire service then you have somewhat of a picture of the scene I just painted. For many, doing a size-up comes naturally, due to the years of experience you have gained from the “job.” It helps not only you as command but assists others on what they have coming in and what their role might be one they arrive on fire ground.

The next task is for you to stand in front of a mirror and perform an Internal Size-Up. Reflect on your emotions and behaviors of the day, week, or perhaps months. Has my anger increased? Have I turned to some form of an addiction to get through the day? Do I carry images in my mind that I visit several times a day? Can I sleep through the night or am I up numerous times due to anxiety and stress? How are my relationships with my family, children or friends going? Am I happy or does the day drag on and I can’t face any challenges? Guess what…You just did an Internal Size-Up.

Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA) has educated thousands of firefighters, EMS, dispatchers, counselors and chaplains for over eleven years on behavioral health and suicide awareness. We have been tracking suicides of these groups since 2010. One such subject we educate on is the need for each person to perform an Internal Size-Up, daily if needed. Simply ask yourself, Why am I acting this way or Why am I feeling this way?” The best thing to do is to listen to others. They see us so much better than the person we see in the mirror.

As mentioned, FBHA has been tracking and validating firefighter and EMS suicides since 2010. In 2019, we added dispatchers/communication specialists. We have validated over 1,625 of these tragic events. We know so much from the data. Data collected by FBHA contacting and speaking, confidentially, to approximately 1,585 chief officers or family survivors.

This is what we know. The number one known reason for our brothers and sisters killing themselves is marital/family relationships. This is followed by depression, PTSD/PTSI, medical/physical issues and then addictions. There are many other reasons plus a combination of some or all of these issues. We know divorce rates are high in our world. It is time the fire service really concentrates on providing family assistance through education on why their loved ones act the way they do and how it effects the home life.

There are several ways to help yourself and your family. First, asking is the best start! Finding a counselor or chaplain who is culturally competent is highly recommended to limit your frustration. There are other forms of counseling which include equine therapy. Yet, one cannot move forward unless they listen to their heart and soul to seek help.

 


In 2010, Jeff Dill founded Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA).  This organization is a 501 (3) (C).  www.ffbha.org

Jeff travels the United States & Canada holding workshops to educate firefighters & EMS about behavioral health awareness and suicide prevention.  FBHA is the only known organization that tracks and validates data on all FF, EMS and dispatcher suicides across the United States. In addition, FBHA holds classes for counselors/chaplains, family members and preparing for retirement.

Jeff Dill holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Argosy University (IL), a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a retired Captain at Palatine Rural Fire Protection District in Inverness, Illinois.

Jeff Dill is a twenty-six year veteran of the fire service, with volunteer and career experience. In addition, he has a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling. He was the founder of Counseling Services for Fire Fighters in 2009 and Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance in 2010.  He travels across the United States and Canada providing educational workshops to firefighters on behavioral health issues such as addictions, depression, PTSD, relationships and suicide awareness. Jeff also educates counselors across the United States on how to work with the fire service and understanding the fire service culture. His belief is education is the key to creating acceptance of behavioral health within the first responder services.


FBHA Resources

Counselors: FBHA teamed up with the National Volunteer Fire Council in providing a national directory of counselors who work with first responders. FBHA has now validated over 300 counselors who work with our culture. Here is the link for the list of counselors across America. https://www.nvfc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Behavioral-Health-Professionals-Directory.pdf

Recognizing Suicide Warning Signs in Firefighters and EMTs

PTSD Screening Questionnaire

Suicide Screening Questionnaire

In-Patient Services

FBHA has been to these facilities and recommends for in-patient assistance. FBHA does not get any funding for making these recommendations. We do this because we have visited or know the people who run their facility and believe in the programs.

  • Center of Excellence: www.iaffrecoverycenter.com
  • Rosecrance: https://rosecrance.org/addiction-treatment/florian-program/
  • Genises House: https://genesishouse.net
  • Deer Hollow: https://deerhollowrecovery.com
  • Safe Call Now: Live telephone operators to assist and place first responders in treatment centers nationally: https://www.safecallnowusa.org

 

FBHA also assists by offering workshops, a closed Facebook group for family survivors and has an annual weekend retreat for family survivors. Visit FBHA at www.ffbha.org.

 News

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IFSTA_LOGO2012A “Partner in Progress”

Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firefighter Association Facebook

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2 weeks ago
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It is that time of year again! Don’t forget to check your smoke detectors tomorrow when changing your clocks.TODAY as we SPRING FORWARD our clocks we ask and remind everyone that we will SPRING FORWARD to a updated Smoke and Co Alarm and have a FAMILY ESCAPE PLAN and conduct a FIRE DRILL for you and your family to know what happens incase of a fire. ... See MoreSee Less

It is that time of year again! Don’t forget to check your smoke detectors tomorrow when changing your clocks.
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Make sure you are on the winning team tonight! Always have a designated driver or another way to get home when drinking.The winning drive in this year’s #BigGame is the one where you get home safe. #MakeAPlan BEFORE kickoff to arrange a sober ride home. Head over to www.zerodeathsmd.gov/rideshare for today's $15 Lyft code courtesy of the Governors Highway Safety Association and Responsibility.org. #ImpairedDriving #BeTheDriver #MDOTsafety ... See MoreSee Less

Make sure you are on the winning team tonight! Always have a designated driver or another way to get home when drinking.
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One hundred years ago, on August 15, 1901 fire chiefs from the States of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia met in Chambersburg, PA for the purpose of adopting a uniform hose coupling and to develop a mutual aid system along the Cumberland Valley Railroad.

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