MIAMI – In the wake of her husband’s death by suicide, Carolyn Acosta is on a mission to raise awareness about the mental health struggles many first responders face in silence.
Her husband, Miami-Dade Fire Lieutenant Alexander Acosta, battled PTSD before taking his own life this past summer.
Now, Carolyn is determined to “sound the alarm” on the urgent need for better mental health support for firefighters and other first responders.
CBS Miami has been spotlighting the mental health crisis across our community.
We recently focused on the work of a local priest to help firefighters coping with PTSD in honor of his own late brother.
Carolyn said this about her late husband, “He was an incredible husband, father, friend. He was just good all around.”
Alex was 49 years old and a longtime member of the Air Rescue Division.
“That’s one thing about Alex is like he had his tough side as far as like when it came to work and stuff,” Carolyn said. “But then also compassion. He was so loving, always expressed how he felt about us, me and my son, even with friends.”