The Philadelphia Tribune
PHILADELPHIA — The local firefighter’s union president is concerned about an alarming trend in his ranks.
Three of his members have committed suicide since December. International Association of Firefighters Local 22 president Joe Schulle said the latest are only the most recent. “There have been seven suicides over the last four years,” he said. “It’s a serious problem and obviously one where there are a lot of issues that come together where an individual feels there is no other option.” Executive Fire Chief Clifford Gilliam said the department is taking the issue very seriously. He noted the causes of the tragic incidents could be very broad and therefore difficult to define.
“The Fire Department has an Employee Assistance Program, which has been in existence for decades that assists members and their families with problems,” Gilliam said. “Local 22 also has an Employee Assistance Program of which members may utilize. We recently partnered with Local 22 and The First Responders Addiction Treatment Program to train all of our members in substance and suicide prevention to date. Because we are not experts in the causes of self-inflicted deaths, we cannot answer that question.”
Full story: Firefighter’s union concerned about suicides