ORLANDO, Fla. — Mental health is becoming a significant crisis in the fire service. More firefighters are dying by suicide as they struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. This year alone, an Orlando firefighter took his life, highlighting a troubling trend seen across Florida and the nation.

Tackling this issue starts with a conversation.

According to the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance, between 2014 to 2020, more firefighters died by suicide than in the line of duty. With suicide and depression prevalent in first responders, Orlando Fire Department Lt. Jeff Orrange is committing to driving change.

“It’s OK not to be OK, but sometimes we got to remember that it’s OK to be OK too. We are a resilient bunch. If you’re OK, good. Be OK and be OK with the guys sitting around you,” said Orrange.

For Orrange, having this conversation is essential within the fire service. He visits various fire stations to connect with fellow firefighters through a program known as Peer-to-Peer Support.

“This is a service that gives so much of our time and energy to focus on other people that we often forget about our own circle. We get on the truck and respond to whatever call comes in, having no idea what to expect,” said Orrange. “There’s almost a freedom that comes with taking care of yourself.”

Even in times when Peer-to-Peer Support is happening, crews jump into action, putting the community before themselves. For Orrange, the heaviness of helping his peers and being present in his own career as a firefighter is met with balance when he’s off the clock.

“Having something that isn’t just fire service, or first responder is so important because there’s a balance. So many people that I’ve talked to who have left the profession, the ones that had a hobby or a set of friends that strictly revolve around the fire service, seemed to excel,” said Orrange.

Orrange is pleased with the progress the fire service has made regarding mental health. However, he believes more training is needed for first responders to help prevent the challenges that often accompany the job.

For first responders seeking additional support, resources are available in our Central Florida community.

 The University of Central Florida offers a free program called UCF Restores, designed to support firefighters, first responders and military members in need of mental health resources. The program focuses on addressing the post-traumatic stress disorder that many of these individuals often encounter in their line of work.

“That heart that allows them to do their job and take dangerous changes sometimes is also what can sometimes be affected by what they see even when they’ve done the very best job they could. We talk to first responders about how no one should be immune from any kind of tragedy whatsoever. What we tell them is here not only to help them overcome whatever is keeping them up at night, but also to give them the skills to help themselves to better the next time or to process that trauma a little bit differently the next time,” said Deborah Beidel, director of UCF Restores.

If you need immediate help, call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.