When others need our help

Capjoe-Elyria-Slider.png

Who do we turn to

When we need help

We are there

Firefighters every day may find themselves dealing with:

Insomnia

Drug Abuse

PTSD

Depression

Problematic Drinking

Anxiety

You Are Not Alone
We Can Help

troubledFireman343.png

PEER Supporters
Ready to Help

OAPFF PEER Support

Mike-Peel-150x150.png
Brett-Bowen-169x300.jpg
tracey-wright.png

Get Help Now

rich-gogorth.jpg
firemanANDfirewoman.png

We are listening

It's okay to ask for help

Need Immediate Help?

If you are having a crisis and in need of immediate assistance, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Call or Text to 988

Available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

PEER Support Services

Individual Peer Supporters

These peer supporters are available to assist Ohio firefighters looking for individual and confidential help.

See Individual Peer Supporters

Request a Peer Team Response

If your department has experienced a tragedy, or critical incident and would like to request a peer support team response please contact one of the following district coordinators.

Request a Team Response Here

WHY PEER SUPPORT

"Peer Support helps us feel safe, like we can trust somone from the same background with our thoughts, feelings and experiences"

PEER SUPPORT

OAPFF PEEER Support members are First Responders too. This allows them to help others deal with the issues that we see and deal with on a daily basis.

Insomnia

 Sleep problems are a common symptom for people who are recovering from traumatic events.

Learn More....

Problematic Drinking

The use and abuse of alcohol and drugs are serious issues that should not be ignored or minimized. If left untreated, use and abuse can develop into drug dependence or alcoholism.

Learn More....

Depression

Most of us feel sad, lonely, or depressed at times. It's a normal reaction to loss, life's struggles, or injured self-esteem.

Learn More....

Drug Abuse

When it comes to alcohol consumption, how much is too much? And, do firefighters drink too much?

Learn More....

PTSD

It is normal to have stress reactions after a traumatic event. Your emotions and behavior can change in ways that are upsetting to you. 

Learn More....

Anxiety

Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations.

Learn More....

Peer Supporters Ready To Help

The OAPFF Peer Support Team will guide members who are struggling to resources which may be helpful in the path toward gaining assistance.  Peer Support Team members have been trained in therapeutic communication, crisis intervention, and community resource networking.

They can provide assistance to both active and retired firefighters who are experiencing behavioral health and/or addiction issues. Peer Support Team Members act as a bridge to outside definitive behavioral health/addiction treatment.

Research shows that fire personnel who balance physical, behavioral, and emotional fitness have the best outcomes, whether one is looking at adjustment to becoming a fire fighter, ratings of career satisfaction, family well-being, or adjustment to retirement.

District Links

Find Help

Click on the map to see a larger image. Choose the coorsponding 'District' link to see a list of available PEER Support members.

THE STATS

This is fact..

132

First Responder Suicides in 2016, almost twice the line of duty deaths

390000

Career and volunteer firefighters suffer from PTSD Nationwide

26

OAPFF PEER Supporters Ready To Help

We are here to help, don't become a statistic.

My Give a Damn is Broken

Great article pertaining to dealing with Covid-19 and mental health. Check out the PDF version.

pdf icon

Firefighter Cancer Support Network

Resources and information from Cancer Treatment Centers of America regarding COVID-19 for cancer patients.

Firefighter Cancer Support Network

LEARN MORE ABOUT SELF CARE

fireman at a building fire

Self-Care Techniques

As a first responder, you dedicate your life to your community. You enter headlong into situations where accidents and catastrophic events cause injuries and casualties.

Suicide Sucks

You think it's embarrassing to have PTSD, Depression, and Suicidal Thoughts? In your line of work, it's far more common than you think. View the story of a SLC Fire Captain's journey to the end of the road, and how he made it back. Suicide Sucks as your solution. This is one video you don't want to miss.

Reactions to Trauma

Your reactions to critical events are normal; the situations you have witnessed are what’s unusual. You are human and have been immersed in catastrophic and risky experiences that could affect anyone. Even with training, crisis events can cause trauma.

Staying Well

Staying Well - A message to First Responders in the Opioid Crisis. Great video on the effects the Opioid Crisis has on First Responders.