SAN ANTONIO – A new Texas law requires the state to review suicide prevention and peer support programs in fire departments across the state, aiming to improve mental health support for firefighters.
House Bill 1593 went into effect on Sept. 1. It establishes an 11-member committee of firefighters, chiefs and mental health professionals to study the impact that peer support programs have on suicide prevention.
“When you know that you did everything you could, everything went right and you were successful, it’s awesome,” said Emily Leffler, a firefighter-paramedic with the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD). “There’s no better feeling. But the reality is, with our job, it’s not always going to turn out right.”
Breaking down barriers
The bill represents a significant shift in addressing mental health within the firefighter community…