Retired fire fighter from North Yorkshire urging colleagues to speak out about mental health struggles
1 in 5 personnel describe their mental health as "poor" or "very poor" after facing new challenges caused by Coronavirus in 2020
Last updated 19th Apr 2021
A retired fire fighter living in North Yorkshire is urging colleagues across the UK to speak out if they're struggling with their mental health.
It's as survey from Mind Blue Light found two out of three fire service personnel say they feel worse because of the pandemic.
One in five describe their mental health as "poor" or "very poor." They're being encouraged to reach out to the Fire Fighters Charity.
Stuart Rye was badly injured in an incident in 1993 where a building collapsed on him and his crew, but sadly one of his team died.
But it wasn't until he had a breakdown during a training exercise years later that he realised he was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
He said he was "keen to get back" to work and in hindsight "should've taken more time away".
"I was still relative quite young and was very keen to get back to work and I didn't take on board the key impact of the incident. I sort of swept it under the carpet so to speak.
"And it wasn't until I got back to work I sort of realised had I rushed back?
"I was in a training exercise where things were falling on me, I was trying to get through but my vision was obscured and I started to panic and started having flash backs to when I was in the incident in 1993 because I was trapped in that under a load of rubble.
"There hasn't been a day that's gone past when I haven't thought about what happened to myself or the crew mate that unfortunately died.
"I got so used to that sort of feeling that it wasn't necessarily an issue when I was thinking about it. I just managed to compose my thoughts and crack on.
"From my personal experience it will come back and bite you later on. It's very important for people to talk about what they've done.
"Just really to find out if there's anything that could be underlying which could raise its head later on in life because that's certainly what happened to me."
According to the findings, Ambulance staff were the emergency service most likely to be negatively affected.
It also found younger members of staff were more likely to experience negative mental health outcomes since the start of the coronavirus outbreak in the UK.
What challenges have firefighters faced?
Things have been different and difficult for everyone since the coronavirus pandemic hit.
Uncertainty, home-schooling, and the threat of the virus affected firefighters just as it did the rest of the population.
The Firefighters Charity say staff faced additional pressures of taking on new roles, bringing them closer to the Covid-Frontline, as well as managing family life back home.
Jane Rosso in the charity's Psychological Lead: "People were very focussed on the new challenges they were facing, professionally and personally. 'Can I keep my family safe? Are they ok? Can I do my duties properly?' There was a lot to juggle at that point in time, and no certainty."
"People were less inclined to seek support, thinking their concerns weren't as important as others, that they had to just carry on and deal with it.
You can listen to the full interview with Jane Rosso on this week's Mental Health Monday Podcast
Support for Firefighters is available
Dr Jill Tolfrey, Chief Executive of The Fire Fighters Charity said: “We commend Mind and the Blue Light Programme on the publication of this latest research, which once again highlights the incredible pressures faced by those who work across our fire and rescue services.
“Covid-19 has amplified these pressures for many on the frontline and brought new mental health challenges for others. As ever, our role at The Fire Fighters Charity is to ensure that we are always here for those in need. While we have had to move our mental health services online during the pandemic, we have supported thousands through virtual consultations over the past year and will continue to do so, while also bringing back our face-to-face services over the weeks to come.
“My message to anyone facing a challenge to their mental wellbeing today is therefore simple. We are here for you. Please pick up the phone or get in touch through our website and we will do whatever we can to help you.”
Mind has a series of resources for anyone in the emergency services who want to find out more about getting support.
The Firefighter's Charity, which operates across the whole of the UK, says its helpline is open, and support services available for any staff who want to reach out.
The number is 0800 3898820.