Editor’s Note: Suicide is always preventable. If you are having thoughts of suicide or feeling suicidal, please immediately dial 9-8-8 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. Counselors are also available to chat at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Remember: You deserve to be supported, and it is never too late to seek help. Speak with someone today.
By Ashlie Handy
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the behavioral health struggles that affect people across all walks of life, including the first responders who dedicate their careers to protecting our communities. Among this community, however, there’s a disturbing and often overlooked truth: More firefighters die by suicide than in the line of duty.
Despite the growing awareness of this crisis, nearly 73% of fire departments nationwide still lack a behavioral health program, leaving countless first responders without the critical support they need.
For St. Petersburg Fire Rescue, that was unacceptable.
First steps
Chief Richard Ganci was tasked with developing a robust behavioral health program. Within six years, he and his team had built one of the most comprehensive programs in the state, possibly even the country.
A firefighter with SPFR since 1986, Ganci retired in 2014, only to immediately step into a division chief role at Pinellas Park Fire Rescue. In 2018, he returned to SPFR as the division training chief with one mission: to train his firefighters to be the best – and that meant not only preparing them physically but emotionally as well. “We’re training for survival,” Ganci said. “It’s my responsibility to make sure that everyone gets home safe.”
Defeating stigma
The greatest obstacle in growing the program was the stigma surrounding behavioral health. For some, seeking help is still viewed as a sign of weakness, a perception that SPFR was determined to change. Early on, the department implemented a peer support program designed specifically for firefighters, led by firefighters. “Peer support is crucial because it connects first responders with colleagues who understand their unique challenges,” Ganci added.
A Florida State University behavioral health study found that 47% of firefighters have contemplated suicide at some point in their careers, while 16% have attempted it. Yet, stigma and fear often prevent them from seeking help. SPFR’s peer support program is designed to meet firefighters where they are, offering them the support they need from trusted peers.
Nine new programs
In 2018, there were two behavioral health programs available for SPFR personnel. Today, there are nine additional programs that offer a variety of support options, including free treatment from privately contracted doctors, visits from comfort dogs, monthly breakfasts with a chaplain, Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) with sentinel call tracking, and tailored training programs based on data-driven evaluations.
“The programs have to reflect the day-to-day of what our personnel are dealing with,” Ganci noted. “It’s the St. Pete way. We train to go above and beyond in everything we do.”
SPFR’s in-house behavioral health program has become a model for departments across the state. In 2024 alone, one of the new programs was used more than 780 times.
Additionally, taking a data-driven approach has helped SPFR focus its behavioral health programs. Specifically, in 2021, it was discovered that 65% of program utilization stemmed from relationship problems, so the team sought to expand coverage to include firefighters’ families. With the support of the city council, the program was successfully expanded.
Sharing the program
The programs developed at SPFR are now shared with all 18 fire departments in Pinellas County, as well as Sunstar Paramedics and Pinellas County 911 Dispatch. Ganci monitors calls across all 20 agencies and tracks SPFR personnel who may have been overexposed to sentinel calls – those involving high-stress situations like the death of a child or suicide. Any firefighter or paramedic who has experienced multiple sentinel calls in a short time is consulted for support. Ganci tracks these alerts personally, ensuring no one falls through the cracks.
SPFR is committed to defying the odds. As Ganci puts it, “We’re a resilient workforce, but we’re human too, and we need to take care of each other.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ashlie Handy is the public information officer at St. Petersburg Fire Rescue.