Police, Basic EMTS, Intermediate EMTs, Paramedics, Firefighters. Medical First Responders. Everyone listed, has a very high suicide rate. 

2017 there were 103 firefighter suicides, 93 line-of-duty deaths. The Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance estimates that only 40% of these suicides are reported. Taking that number to 257, nearly doubling the line-of-duty death rate. 

17 out of 100,000 police officers die by suicide. In 2018, 167 officers took their own lives. The numbers are only estimated to go up with the last year and the finishing of this one. Although we will never have the true numbers of these suicide rates, since some families will label these deaths, 'accidental'. 

Suicide is the result of mental-illness. Such as PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), and Depression. These rates are nearly five times higher than the national civilian population. Since all of these jobs are constantly surrounded with death and destruction, it is normal for the brain and body to become overwhelmed. 

Mental Illness can alter decision making, hence why suicide can look like your best option. When in reality, it isn't. With these devastating numbers rising in the U.S today, many organizations have been founded to help the responders who need it. 

American Foundation For Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics/

Blue Help: https://bluehelp.org

Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance:  http://www.pocketpeer.org

Law Enforcement Suicide Prevention And Awareness:  https://www.theiacp.org/resources/document/law-enforcement-suicide-prevention-and-awareness

Since I'm going to school to be an EMT- Basic, and my Grandma was one. This is a topic that I strongly encourage people research. They are the first responders we count on in our time of need, so why can't they count on us in theirs? 

Help them out. Visit websites for awareness. Volunteer and help the ones you can. Try and get family and friends to talk about they're Mental Illnesses, even if they aren't First Responders. 

Thank you.