By D.S. Woodfill
The Republic
GLENDALE, Ariz. — About 900 firefighters from departments across the West Valley are going through a suicide-intervention program intended to reduce the number of firefighters taking their own lives.
The West Side Training Consortium, a group of fire officials from 16 departments, started the classes in reaction to a perceived spike in firefighter suicides in the Valley. Although there are no exact figures available, fire officials said numerous firefighters have taken their own lives, particularly after the economy went bust.
The classes, which run through June, are taught by instructors from Luke Air Force Base who do similar training for soldiers who face their own emotional burdens when serving in battle.
Full Story: West Valley fire departments battle rise in firefighter-suicide rates