Mental toll on firefighters: How it’s being addressed?

After spending weeks battling the devastating wildfires across Southern California, many firefighters are returning home from deployment. But what some are also bringing with them, trauma.

Firefighters are constantly exposed to dangerous, at times life-threatening, situations.

That can sometimes come at a cost.

"The most difficult thing that firefighters experience is just due to being on duty for lengthy periods of time. We respond to structure fires, critical medial aids, even basic medical aids.”

Ronnie Skyberg, PSFD fire captain & PIO

This can lead to feelings of helplessness, exhaustion and mental health struggles that can worsen if left untreated. According to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, there are between 100 to 200 firefighter deaths by suicide each year, that's more than those who die on duty and double the rate of the general population.

To combat this, Palm Springs and Cathedral City Fire Departments are putting mental health on the forefront, with new programs and resources. But also part of the battle, reducing the stigma around mental healthcare for first responders.

“Our department has implemented a wellness committee focusing not only on physical wellbeing… but we have implemented a peer support program and that’s just basically being able to check in on your members, making sure they’re doing okay... The fact that we’re getting rid of that stigma, we’re bringing mental health into the limelight, we’re actually having this discussion, it’s awesome, it’s something that’s needed, it’s well overdue.”

Paul Valladares, CCFD engineer paramedic

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.