CHARLESTON, S.C. — Firefighters across South Carolina’s Lowcountry are mourning the loss of one of their own while urging changes they say are needed to better support the mental health of first responders.
According to the Charleston Firefighters’ Association, six current, retired or former Charleston firefighters have died by suicide since 2020. In a separate social media post, the Columbia Fire Department announced the death of one of its firefighters, who had previously served in Charleston.
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Firefighters and advocates say the strain of the job goes beyond emergency scenes, with financial stress adding to the burden, WCIV reported. Jason Smith, president of the Isle of Palms Firefighter Association, said mental health has long been a difficult topic for firefighters to discuss openly.
In a follow-up post, Station 61 said firefighters’ mental health is closely tied to time, money, sleep and job security. Smith said financial pressure can deepen the emotional toll firefighters already carry from the trauma of the job.
“The financial stressors that really impact us on a day-to-day basis, along with the trauma that we see on a daily basis,” he said. “The mental health stressors that we bring into the job, which are relational and financial, it does impact us, and it’s an accumulative effect.”
Station 61 said reducing those pressures could help lower rates of PTSD, depression and suicide among firefighters. Smith also stressed the importance of making sure firefighters feel able to seek help when they need it.
