Countless people have committed suicide over the past few months. First responders know that mental illness is a serious issue. However, they are often reluctant to get help for their own mental problems.

In 2009, Tim Mclean was stabbed by another passenger named Vince Li on a greyhound bus in Canada. Vince Li never served any jail time due to his mental illness. Ken Barker was one of the first responders on the scene. This tragic event took a major toll on Ken and he committed suicide in 2014. Many people believe that there is a direct link between what happened in 2009 and Ken’s suicide in 2014.

The stigma associated with mental illness is one of the reasons that many people do not get help. First responders fear being criticized for having a mental illness. They also fear being labeled as “crazy”.

An Australian police officer committed suicide in 2017. There was nothing in her life that indicated that she was suicidal. The Australian government has pushed for greater awareness of mental health issues. They also stated that speaking out removes the stigma.

People are beginning to recognize that there is a great need for mental health care among first responders. However, the stigma still remains. Not only is there a stigma among first responders, but there is also a stigma in the community at large.

The stigma places a barrier between what society says is normal and abnormal. Every human being has certain characteristics about them that distinguishes them from other people. A sense of pride is what stops people from getting help. Many people are also afraid to get the help that they need.

The Badge of Life is a program that is designed to prevent suicide among police officers. In 2016, 108 police officers killed themselves. According to the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance, 113 firefighters and paramedics committed suicide.

It is also important to note that suicides among first responders may be under-reported. There is not an official database that keeps track of suicides among first responders. Most first responders do not ask for help. Additionally, many departments do not report the suicides.

Erasing the stigma will prompt more people to get help. Educating people about mental illness, being empathetic and changing the perception about mental illness will help get rid of the stigma.