The Psychology of Suicide in the Fire Service

The little research we have on the issue is screaming at us to intervene now

By Dr. Zachary Isoma

When I sat down to write about firefighter suicide, the scientist in me wanted to approach the topic pragmatically. I wanted to cite research studies, give statistics, and dissect the psychological variables linked to suicide. And I will do those things. But first, it’s really important to recognize you might have been devastated by the suicide of a brother or sister, or perhaps a family member or close friend. 

No words could adequately describe the depths of grief and sadness you might be experiencing from that loss. It’s a pain felt too often within the fire service. Please know the information below is meant to honor those lost, and those that continue to suffer, because of this gut-wrenching tragedy.

My hope is to shine a bright light on the dark face of suicide in order to decrease its occurrence. The more we know about suicide, the more we can fight it. As the old proverb goes, better the devil you know than the devil you don’t. So let’s get to know this devil.

Understanding the Scope of the Problem

It’s important to figure out the size of the devil. In other words, how common is suicide in the fire service? The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation found a department was three times more likely to lose a member to suicide than in the line of duty.  

Other research found similarly alarming results. For example, a study published in 2015 recorded responses to a survey on suicidal thoughts from more than 1,000 active and retired firefighters across the U.S. The researchers found nearly half (46.8 per cent) of the participating firefighters admitted to experiencing suicidal thoughts at some point during their careers. By contrast, high estimates show about 15 per cent of the general population will experience suicidal thoughts.

If the data continues in this direction, it means the greatest risk to firefighters is not a building collapse, but a psychological one. 

So, how do we (psychologists) explain what happens for firefighters who are thinking of suicide, and what do we do about it? 

Psychology at Play

Human beings are unique in their advanced use of language and higher-level thinking, which can be a blessing and a curse. We are able to remember the past, plan for the future, innovate, create, problem-solve, and imagine. If that weren’t unique enough, we’re aware of our own existence in a way that is more advanced than any other conscious animal. However, these same skills lead to imagining a world without emotional burden, and fantasizing about ending that pain.

Studies examining suicide notes show the darkness of higher-level thinking. Suicide notes tend to have common themes, including thoughts about the heaviness of living and a desire to lift that weight. They also show painful emotions, including guilt, loneliness, and sadness. Studies on suicide in firefighters have shown similar themes but include experiences distinct to firefighters that put them at higher risk of suicide.

The Impact of Trauma

Firefighters are far more likely to encounter gruesome scenes of death, distress, and tragedy, including witnessing the aftermath of suicide. The cumulative impact of these calls can have multiple negative effects, including cynicism, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. If that weren’t enough, firefighters are prone to sleep deprivation from shift work, which adds to the negative impact of the job and decreases the ability to cope. 

Even with adequate sleep, however, traditional fire service culture emphasizes stuffing down painful thoughts and feelings – a coping strategy that has been shown to increase, not decrease, unwanted thoughts and emotions. There is also a high rate of binge-drinking in the fire service, perhaps as a way to deal with bottled-up thoughts and feelings. The combination of exposure to gruesome deaths, emotional suppression, sleep deprivation, and alcohol abuse increases a firefighter’s risk for suicide. 

The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide

These difficulties can lead to thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that align with the most widely researched theory on suicide – the interpersonal theory. The theory argues there are three main factors contributing to suicide – perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and acquired capability. Perceived burdensomeness is the belief that a firefighter is a burden to others; thwarted belongingness is a firefighter’s sense that they are suffering alone; and acquired capability is a firefighter’s fearlessness of their own death.

It’s not hard to imagine firefighters experiencing fearlessness about their own death, given how often they are exposed to death. Over time, frequent exposure to death can desensitize firefighters, and the idea of dying becomes less and less tragic and scary (i.e., acquired capability). 

Firefighters might also feel distant from others for multiple reasons. For example, they might want to shield loved ones from the gruesome details of their job. However, firefighters may struggle connecting with the average layperson since others cannot understand their experiences. The unintended consequence is social isolation and disconnection (i.e., thwarted belongingness). 

Finally, years of traumatic exposure, occupational stress, emotional suppression, and alcohol abuse can lead to irritability and angry outbursts toward family and friends, problems with relationships at the station, and lashing out at patients in the field. Eventually, firefighters might believe they are doing more harm than good, and that people might be better off if they were no longer alive (i.e., perceived burdensomeness).

Prevention and Intervention

So, what can a department do to protect its members and mitigate the risk of suicide? Importantly, we need more studies on suicide in the fire service. There are far more studies on the general population, military, and law enforcement compared to the fire service. But departments don’t need to wait for the research before implementing safety protocols. 

Departments can establish a health and safety committee, consult with psychologists, implement resiliency training, create a peer support team trained in handling firefighter crises, collaborate with local clinicians and inpatient facilities to create a program specific for firefighters in crisis, and educate everyone from new recruits to leadership on identifying risk factors. Every department is different and can tailor a program to their specific needs.

Regardless of the approach a department takes, the little research we have is screaming at us to intervene now. It’s time to bring the darkness of suicide from out of the shadows. We must talk about the mental health elephant in the room. We might not be able to eradicate suicides altogether, but we can, and should, try.