Welcome to Retired Firefighters Wellness Network.

 

We feel we are one  of  the very few online communities  dedicated to mental health awareness for retired firefighters dealing with effects of PTSD. For many, life after the Firehall  has been a struggle, many feel abandoned, lost, alone.

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On December 24, 2022,  a retired brother after just 7 years into his retirement from the Vancouver Fire Department committed suicide.

 

Needless to say his friends and family were not only shaken to the core with his needless passing, but every bit confused for the reasons why he took his own life. After all he was retired,  enjoying life in retirement. Little did we know that he as suffering in silence  from the affects of the constant exposure to the trauma and the death found in the Downtown East Side of Vancouver protected, by  one the busiest Firehalls in Canada in one of the poorest crime infested and violent neighbourhoods in this country

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There was not doubt in the minds of any firefighter both active or retired  from Vancouver who has ever worked in that district the contributing factor to this members suicide was an unreasonable amount of exposure and the horrific nature of these calls.  It is important to note that the VFD administration  have now saw fit to limit the tour of duty to this firehall to a period not to exceed 1 year in the fear their firefighters would soon suffer  burned out if  exposed to high call volumes.  Unfortunately our fallen brother was not as fortunate having spent more than five times  that operating in that environment, well before his retirement in 2017

 

It is important to note that despite the years spent in retirement one carries many of  those very real  memories with them for the rest of their lives. When you walk away from a career of public service into a new stage of your life, that  of retirement there is a considerable adjustment for a firefighter. Gone are the long nights,  dealing with the aftermath of  MVA's  and the grind this job can be at times.  More profound  than those are the sense of loss, not only that feeling of making a difference but the loss of  sense of team. The loss of the daily routines and interaction of the firehall, both good and horrific. All play on you  from time to time. For some those memories manifest themselves in many ways,  at any time in some case years after the event.  One thing they in deed do is never retire.

 

It is unfortunate to report that we as firefighters grew up in a work environment that did not offer much support for those who carried this burden with them. Never did any one feel comfortable talking about their feelings  for the fear of retribution or ridicule for being soft. After all many of our first experiences as rookies  were at the hands of WW II veterans. who were now in leadership roles within our department. They themselves found themselves in the  vicious circle that was just repeating itself with the influx of WW I veterans returning from the Great War seeking  employment in the early 20's. This is the  para military culture and environment  that we grew up in and retired from. 

 

Today, we live in a very different environment.  Many employers recognize their responsibility  to protect their employees, and offer counselling  services to address mental health issues. Unfortunately that same responsibility does not extend to the legislators here in British Columbia responsible for work place injuries and related compensation legislation . It is their view that anyone without a clinical  diagnosis prior to retirement does not qualify as a PTSD injury.  This position the legislators have taken up is morally wrong if not insulting  not only to those that carry the scars of treating countless trauma victims during their careers protecting the public, but to their respective families,  who live with the fallout every day.

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The founding members of  this Wellness Network have taken up the fight to have this legislation changed to recognize PTSD as a presumptive injury for firefighters whether they are retired or active. There should be no discrimination in applying criteria for PTSD given the nature of our past profession. There is no "if"  you will receive a  mental health injury during you service to the public. The only question  that needs to be answered  is  the "how much or how many events one may experience over their career of public service.

 

We have much work to do.  

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As we move forward, our website will make every effort connect you with other retired firefighters who are going through the same struggles. We strive to provide you with a wealth of resources in the hope to improve your mental health and your well-being. Whether you want to reconnect with other retired firefighters, find the right treatment program, or just talk to someone who understands you . The Retired Firefighters Wellness Network is here for you.

 

You are no longer alone.