Perceptions of PTSD and Alcoholism in One of Our Own

摘要

The fire service has a great degree of pride in the service it provides. This pride tends to bond firefighters regardless of the size or makeup of the firefighter's department. The pride firefighters have for the history and the future of the service can at times cloud the issues they or coworkers may be facing. The perception of mental health issues in one of our own still carries a significant stigma in many departments. The sidebar "Battling Alcohol Abuse: One Firefighter's Story" is just one example of a firefighter who has had a long and colorful history dealing with the struggles of alcoholism and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As you read his story, you may be able to change his name to your name or that of a coworker and you may be able to change the name of the department to your department. The story is presented to share openly one firefighter's struggle with PTSD and alcoholism that eventually led to a forced retirement. The objective of this article is to explore some of what firefighters experience when facing substance abuse and mental health issues. The article links some of the points made in this story with common reactions to these types of issues.