Check out the latest training opportunities

IAFF COE Webinar: Addressing Suicide in the Fire Service

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Training Date: Friday, June 16, 2023 - 12:00pm

Speaker: Molly Jones, LSW & Brandon Dreiman, Captain with Indianapolis Fire Department, Coordinator of Firefighter Wellness and Support for IFD, and IAFF Peer Support Instructor 

Event Description:
This presentation will address the issue of suicide among fire service members and equip attendees with a greater understanding of how suicidal ideation develops, practical strategies for preventing suicide, what to do after a member attempts or dies by suicide, and overview the basics of safety planning. Molly Jones and Brandon Drieman will discuss the unique reasons why suicidal ideation develops in fire service members, identify risk and protective factors for suicide, and dispel myths or misconceptions about suicide. Molly and Brandon will explain the step-by-step process for assessing for warning signs, best practices for connecting members to helpful resources, and how to develop a safety plan for suicide. 

 

This presentation is intended for members of the fire service, other types of first responders, family members, treatment providers, and members of the community who are interested in furthering their knowledge on suicide and suicide prevention. 

 

Time: 12 PM - 1:30 PM EST


Any accommodations for a disability please email, Craines@advancedrecoverysystems.com.

The course is offered via Demio. The event is free of charge.

The IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery is a one-of-a-kind treatment facility specializing in PTSD for professional fire service members who struggle with trauma, substance use, addiction and other related behavioral health challenges. It is a safe haven for members to receive the help they need in taking the first steps toward recovery and share experiences with other members who have faced or overcome similar challenges. 

IAFF COE Webinar: Behavioral Health Awareness for Fire Service Families

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Training Date: Thursday, June 22, 2023 - 12:00pm

 

Speaker: Hannah Elmore, MSW 

Event Description:
This training will provide spouses and family members with psychoeducation on common behavioral health concerns seen among fire service members. Participants will learn strategies for supporting the behavioral health needs of their loved ones, as well as be given insight into treatment options available for fire service members and families.

Objectives: 

  • Discuss the most common behavioral health challenges for members of the fire service
  • Discuss the 5 components of resilience & how to increase resilience
  • Discuss family dynamics & identify strategies for improving unhealthy dynamics
  • Discuss the 5 Love Languages & the Gottman Sound Relationship House Theory
  • Identify helpful resources for fire service members & their family 


Time: 12 PM - 1:30 PM EST


Any accommodations for a disability please email, Craines@advancedrecoverysystems.com.

The course is offered via Demio. The event is free of charge.

The IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery is a one-of-a-kind treatment facility specializing in PTSD for professional fire service members who struggle with trauma, substance use, addiction and other related behavioral health challenges. It is a safe haven for members to receive the help they need in taking the first steps toward recovery and share experiences with other members who have faced or overcome similar challenges. 

IAFF: Helping Members in Recovery

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The IAFF is pleased to share our newest behavioral health online training.

Helping Members in Recovery is designed for IAFF members and affiliate leaders who want to support a fellow member in recovery from a substance use or mental health problem.

This free, two-hour, self-paced course delivers critical education, support strategies, and best practices to effectively support a sister or brother who is currently attending or recently completed treatment. 

Questions this course will address:

  • How do I know if a member is ready to get help?
  • How is professional treatment for a substance use or mental health problem delivered?
  • What should I say or not say to a member returning to the job after a leave of absence?
  • How can I support personal accountability, while recognizing if a member is slipping?
  • What policies should affiliate departments have in place to support a culture of recovery?

Supporting members in recovery is everyone’s responsibility. This course was designed for IAFF members, but it is open to any fire service member.

Follow training website link for registration.

For additional information, contact behavioralhealth@iaff.org.
 


First Responder QPR Instructor

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The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF) funds evidence-based Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Instructor training for Ohio first responder agencies. It is prudent to provide all first responders with the education and training necessary to become aware of the warning signs, risk factors, and situations that may cause someone to have suicidal thoughts.

The skills and techniques used in suicide prevention can apply to the public, coworkers, family, and friends. Suicide and suicidal ideation can affect anyone regardless of gender, age, race, rank, etc. Everyone plays a role in suicide prevention. You do not have to be a mental health professional to save a life. Most of the time, it is not a mental health professional that a suicidal person expresses their thoughts and feelings to first—it is a friend, colleague, or family member. This project aims to equip key first responder personnel with the confidence and competence needed to initiate conversations about suicide with colleagues, instill hope, and refer at-risk colleagues to appropriate mental and behavioral health resources.

Additional Training:

Participants will be required to complete two hours of prerequisite training.

  • After the Registration Deadline has passed, participants will receive an email from the QPR Institute with the detailed steps of this process.

Limitations: Your certification only allows you to present community Gatekeeper training. Certification does not include the right to train others to become Gatekeeper Instructors.

Attendees must be one of the following categories:

  1. Law Enforcement
  2. Firefighter
  3. EMS
  4. Dispatcher

Attendees must be a resident of Ohio.

Variety of training dates available.

This FREE educational opportunity is brought to you by generous contributions from the Ohio Department of Public Safety.

Questions/General Information:
Jason Hughes
Program Manager | Veteran Liaison
Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation
jason.hughes@ohiospf.org

The Recovery Village Educational Series

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The Recovery Village offers online and in-person educational opportunities to help medical professionals stay up to date with the latest advancements in their fields and earn continuing education credits. We also offer community education for anyone interested in addiction and mental health topics.

What Are Continuing Education Events?

At The Recovery Village, we know how important it is for medical professionals to stay current on the latest trends and treatment protocols in their fields. To help, we offer a series of continuing education opportunities in our local communities, led by our team of doctors, clinicians and trusted partners. Each presentation is designed to keep you on the forefront of advancements in the following fields: substance abuse, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders and other co-occurring mental health issues.

In 2022, Advanced Recovery Systems launched ARS University – a free online addiction and mental health education platform dedicated to keeping you up-to-date on issues and trends in these fields. Whether you’re a professional seeking continuing education or an individual looking to learn more to support yourself or someone you care about, you can find information here. We welcome you to sign up at no cost to take advantage of our weekly webinars, both live and on-demand, and engage in our community.

Exclusively for IAFF members.
It’s okay to ask for help.

Comprehensive addiction treatment at the IAFF Center of Excellence.

Recovery Begins Here

CALM: Counseling on Access to Lethal Means

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Course Description

Reducing access to lethal means, such as firearms and medication, can determine whether a person at risk for suicide lives or dies.

This course is about how to reduce access to the methods people use to kill themselves. It covers who needs lethal means counseling and how to work with people at risk for suicide—and their families—to reduce access.

This course earned two awards in 2019:

 

  • Bronze Digital Health Award
  • Bronze Omni Award

 

After completing this course you will be able to:

  • Explain that reducing access to lethal means is an evidence-based strategy for suicide prevention.
  • Explain how reducing access to lethal means can prevent suicide.
  • Identify clients for whom lethal means counseling is appropriate.
  • Describe strategies for raising the topic of lethal means, and feel more comfortable and competent applying these strategies with clients.
  • Advise clients on specific off-site and in-home secure storage options for firearms and strategies to limit access to dangerous medications.
  • Work with your clients and their families to develop a specific plan to reduce access to lethal means and follow up on the plan over time.

Audience

While this course is primarily designed for mental health professionals, others who work with people at risk for suicide, such as health care providers and social service professionals, may also benefit.

Course Length

This course can be completed in approximately two hours. You do not have to complete the course in one session. You can exit the course at any time and return later to the place where you left off.

Certificate of Completion

To receive a certificate of completion, you must do the following online: complete each lesson, pass the posttest (passing score is 80% or higher), and answer the feedback survey questions.

You can earn a certificate of completion once per year for each course. We do not offer continuing education credits for any of our courses.

 

PEER SUPPORT TRAINING

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About the IAFF Peer Support Training

The IAFF Peer Support Training is delivered by IAFF master peer support instructors in two formats: 1) two days in person or 2) three days online.

After completing the training, members have the necessary knowledge and skills to provide support to their peers, have a basic understanding of common behavioral health issues affecting the fire service, can serve as a bridge to community resources or behavioral health treatment when indicated, and are able to build or enhance their peer support programs.

Curriculum

Participants must first complete the online IAFF Behavioral Health Awareness Course. The two-hour course is self-paced and tailored for the fire service.

Subsequently, members participate in the interactive training taught by experienced peers in the fire service. The curriculum focuses on active listening, confidentiality, general assessment and suicide assessment, crisis intervention, action planning, outreach, self-care, and building an effective peer support program.

Instructors use small-group learning methods and skill-building exercises to encourage student participation and mastery of the material.

For a program overview, please see the IAFF Peer Support Training

https://www.iaff.org/peer-support/#find-a-training

For more information, please contact behavioralhealth@iaff.org

International Association of Fire Fighters
Attn: Health and Safety Department
1750 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20006-5395

Disaster Response for Peer Support

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Please note that only IAFF-trained Peer Support providers will have access to this course.

 

The Disaster Response Peer Support training was developed as a result of more frequent and more severe natural and man-made disasters. The training provides peer supporters with information on how disasters contribute to behavioral health problems and how to intervene. Participants will learn the importance of promoting five key concepts: safety, calming, efficacy, connectedness and hope.

The goal of the program is to:

  • Describe how disasters can contribute to behavioral health problems.
  • Identify how peer support after a disaster is different than a typical peer support call or activity.
  • List the multiple roles involved in providing peer support at a disaster area.
  • Apply five principles that should guide all disaster responses.
  • Identify self-care activities for peer supporters before, during, and after deploying to a disaster area.
  • List available IAFF resources for disaster relief.

    Click on the Training Website link and then Advanced Peer Support Training.

IAFF Resiliency Training

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The IAFF Resiliency Training is designed for 40 in-person participants (or 25 students in the virtual format). Through a combination of self-assessment, didactic instruction, group discussion and video, participants will gain an essential foundation for personal resiliency on and off the job.

Curriculum

The IAFF Resiliency Training includes two components: pre-course content and classroom content. Pre-course content includes an individual resiliency assessment completed online, followed by a one-hour video series on organizational resiliency. Classroom content will focus on six key concepts to gain resiliency building skills that can be applied both on and off the job.

The IAFF Resiliency Training will teach you to:

  • Assess your current level of individual resiliency
  • Respond to stress with positive, flexible thinking
  • Increase positive social interactions on and off shift
  • Experience more positive emotions during your day
  • Manage stress through tactical breathing, meditation and mindfulness
  • Challenge personal and occupational barriers to good nutrition and exercise
  • Build meaning and purpose in your daily life through spirituality

 

In-Person Trainings

Trainings are hosted by an IAFF local or affiliated fire department. Because host sites typically choose to limit attendance to their own IAFF local or neighboring departments, the upcoming training schedule is not posted online.

Occasionally, a host site has space available for outside participants. The IAFF maintains a list of those who have expressed interest in learning when class openings occur. Notification is typically sent to the list within a few weeks of the training date.

Individuals who want to participate in the training at another host site must: (1) obtain the approval of their local president; (2) register and communicate directly with the host point of contact; and (3) be responsible for travel expenses and any registration fee charged by the host.

Sign up to be placed on the IAFF Resiliency Support Training Contact List.


Virtual Trainings

There are two ways to attend a virtual training:

  • Through Your Organization:
    The IAFF Virtual Resiliency Training can be hosted by an IAFF local or affiliated fire department, and participation in the training is limited to those the host organization invites. If your local or department is interested in hosting a virtual training, please complete the IAFF Virtual Resiliency Training Request Form and email it to behavioralhealth@iaff.org.
  • As An Individual:
    The IAFF Virtual Resiliency Training will also be hosted by IAFF headquarters on limited number of dates. These trainings are open to all IAFF members and fire service personnel. Check back here for upcoming training dates or sign up here to be notified of scheduled trainings.

The Safety Planning Intervention for Suicide Prevention

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Please note that only IAFF Peer Support providers will have access to this course.

 

The Safety Planning Intervention for Suicide Prevention training covers how to complete the Safety Planning Intervention with fire fighters who have made a suicide attempt, reported thinking about suicide or who otherwise may be at risk of suicide. Through this process, the fire fighter will learn how to recognize when they are experiencing a suicidal crisis and will develop a prioritized written list of tools they can use to keep themselves safe. This Safety Plan acts as an emergency plan, or standard operating guide (SOG), to avert a crisis and prevent the fire fighter from acting on their suicidal thoughts or urges.

After completing the course, you will be able to:

  • Determine a fire fighter’s suicidal risk and when the Safety Planning Intervention is appropriate.
  • Explain the suicidal crisis model and the rationale for developing a Safety Plan.
  • List the six steps of the Safety Plan worksheet and describe their purpose.
  • Provide guidance when choosing the most effective tools to complete each Safety Planning step.
  • Identify barriers that are frequently encountered when creating a Safety Plan.
  • Plan an appropriate follow-up after the intervention

 

Click on the Training Website link and then Advanced Peer Support Training.

Community Education for Fire Fighters and First Responders

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View Past IAFF COE Webinars by Topic

Addiction

Addiction in the Fire Service: Training for Fire Fighters, Paramedics & Dispatchers

Led by Molly Jones, LSW on June 25, 2020 

Overcoming Addiction: A Fire Fighter’s Experience

Led by Molly Jones, LSW & Jeff Gauthier, Local 215 Milwaukee on October 15, 2020

Opioid Addiction, Treatment and One Fire Fighter’s Journey

Led by Lauren Kosc, MA, LCPC & Lieutenant Chris Goggin, Local 718 Boston on April 15, 2021

Substance Abuse & Cognitive Distortions

Led by Dr. Kristin Klimley, Psy.D on May 20, 2021

Trauma, Grief, and Post-Traumatic Stress

Trauma in the Fire Service: A Discussion on Post Traumatic Stress

Led by Molly Jones, LSW & Ray Rahne, IAFF 9th District Vice President on July 16, 2020

Trauma in the Fire Service

Led by Lauren Kosc, MA, LCPC & Ray Rahne, IAFF 9th District Vice President on November 4, 2020

Grief and the Fire Service

Led by Molly Jones, LSW & Joanne Steen, MS, NCC on March 4, 2021

Utilizing EMDR When Working With Fire Service Members

Led by Molly Jones, LSW & Ari Brooks, LCSW on March 18, 2021

Suicide in the Fire Service: Prevention Planning & Intervention Strategies

Led by Dr. Brandy Benson of Tampa Bay Psychology and Molly Jones, LSW on September 24, 2020.

Understanding Anxiety

Led by Molly Jones, LSW on April 8, 2021.

Behavioral Health in Retirement for Fire Service Members

Led by Molly Jones, LCSW & Chris Fields, Ret. Major, Oklahoma City, OK Fire Department on May 13, 2021.

Fire Service Families

Help Starts at Home: Fire Service Families and Behavioral Health

Led by Molly Jones, LSW, Dawn Roy, LCSW & Theresa Boles, Local 1271 Surrey on November 12, 2020

Fire Family Dynamics: Promoting Healthy Home Lives

Led by Molly Jones, LSW, Mike Wells, Local 1619 Prince George’s County on February 18, 2021

Healthy Relationship Building and Maintenance for Fire Service Couples

Led by Molly Jones, LSW & Jasmyne Kennewick, MAMFT, LMFT, RPT, CSST on February 25, 2021

Peer Support

An Introduction to IAFF Peer Support and Program Development

Led by Sarah Bernes, MPH, LMSW, MBA, Jeff Campbell of Local 1660 Tualatin Valley & Heith Good of Local 1723 Norwich Township on August 20, 2020

Understanding Peer Support in the Fire Service

Led by Lauren Kosc, MA, LCPC & Justin Price, Local 947 Greensboro on August 13, 2020

Clinical Training

Addiction in the Fire Service: Training for Clinicians

Led by Molly Jones, LSW on June 18, 2020

Trauma in the Fire Service for Clinicians

Led by Lauren Kosc, MA, LCPC & Ray Rahne, IAFF 9th District Vice President on July 30, 2020

Treating Fire Service Professionals: Building Cultural Competency for Clinicians

Led by Molly Jones, LSW on April 22, 2021

Work Life Balance in the Fire Service

Led by Molly Jones, LSW & Theresa Boles, Local 1271 Surrey on September 10,2020

Health Insurance Coverage for IAFF Members

Led by Kelly Savage & Myrrhanda Jones, Center of Excellence Outreach Directors & Jim Tate, IAFF Health Care Advisor and Local 440 Fort Worth President Emeritus on December 2, 2020

Navigating the Behavioral Health Care System for Fire Service Members

Led by Molly Jones, LSW & Tina Casola, LMFT, First Alarm Wellness on October 22, 2020

Managing Stress in 2021: Strategies for Success

Led by Molly Jones, LSW on January 21, 2021

Miscellaneous

Behavioral Health Among Fire Fighters and Paramedics

Led by Abby Morris, MD

Looking Back, Looking Ahead: Overview of 2020 Education and What’s to Come in 2021

Led by Molly Jones, LSW on December 17, 2020

Introduction to Fire Fighter Behavioral Health: Enhancing your Knowledge

Led by Molly Jones, LSW on January 14, 2021

 

SAMHSA Creating Safe Scenes Training Course

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This free online course helps first responders assist individuals in crisis with mental illness or substance use disorder using safe, positive approaches.


Creating Safe Scenes is a free, Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE)- accredited, online training course that helps first responders—police, fire, and emergency medical services—work with individuals experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis.

This course is designed to help first responders understand more about mental health, mental illness, and substance use disorders so they can better assess risks and apply the safest strategies for taking care of themselves and the individuals they are called to serve.

Creating Safe Scenes—which includes first-hand video accounts from responders and mental health consumers, quizzes, resources, and a final exam—will help first responders:

  • Understand how individuals come to experience a behavioral health crisis
  • Understand how best to make a safe connection with an individual experiencing a crisis
  • Learn about de-escalation strategies for working with people in crisis
  • Learn strategies for developing community networks and referral resources
  • Understand how to improve the safety of both the responder and the individual in crisis

SAMHSA First Response: Working on the Front Lines of the Opioid Crisis Training Course

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This free, 1-hour, online training course was developed in response to the impact of the opioid crisis on first responders across the country. It addresses the mental and physical stressors faced by firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, and police when responding to opioid overdose calls. This course also provides evidence-based coping strategies, resources, and exercises to help mitigate the impacts of these stressful events.

The course is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE). Course participants complete a final exam to obtain continuing education credit.

After completing this course, you will be able to do the following:

  • Describe the opioid crisis, including its extent and how it affects the critical work that first responders do;
  • Describe mental health and substance use issues and mental and substance use disorders that are more common among first responders than the general public;
  • Recognize the warning signs of mental and substance use disorders in yourself and your peers;
  • Help reduce stigma, or negative and incorrect ideas about mental and substance use disorders—including the nature of opioid use and misuse, opioid use disorder, and addiction, and the needs of first responders;
  • Identify and use stress management and healthy coping strategies; and
  • Share evidence-based practices and resources for self-care and positive responses to work stress.

Service to Self online training through SAMHSA

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This free online training course informs fire and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel about their increased risk of experiencing mental health and substance use issues and conditions. It also equips them with information and resources to address these issues in themselves or their peers.

Service to Self: Behavioral Health for Fire and EMS Personnel is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE).

Course participants complete a final exam to obtain continuing education credit.

This 60-minute course includes relatable firsthand video accounts from volunteer and career firefighters and emergency medical technicians, as well as helpful resources and interactive components to support learning.

This course is designed to help firefighters and EMS personnel to:

  • Be aware of risk factors for and prevalence of mental health and substance use issues in their professional communities.
  • Recognize the warning signs of mental health and substance use issues in yourself and your peers.
  • Discuss mental health and substance use-related issues with colleagues to help reduce stigma.
  • Identify and use stress management and healthy coping strategies. Be aware of and share evidence-based practices and resources for increasing capacity to cope with occupational stressors.

Webinar Words Matter: How to Safely Communicate About Suicide

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Training Date: Thursday, November 28, 2019 - 8:00pm to Monday, November 30, 2020 - 8:00pm

Mental Health First Aid

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Training Date: Friday, March 1, 2019 - 5:45am to Monday, March 1, 2021 - 5:45am

Mental Health First Aid for Fire and EMS focuses on the unique experiences and needs of firefighters and EMS personnel and is a valuable resource that can make a difference in their lives, their families’ lives and the communities in which they live. Firefighters and EMS workers learn about the importance of early intervention and how, as first responders, they can intervene in the field and provide direct assistance to someone who is experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. You can find a course on this site by clicking on "Search for Course"

Service to Self – Behavioral Health for Fire and EMS Personnel

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An online training for first responders developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administraion.  This training will provide CEU's for both Peer Support Team members and for paramedics.

Training for Clinicians who work with Firefighters

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For clinicians, the first step to learning more about providing behavioral health services to firefighters and EMS personnel is to take the free online course, Helping Heroes. This course was developed by the Medical University of South Carolina’s National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. It offers behavioral health professionals easy access to instruction that will enable them to apply the very best evidence-based approaches to the issues presented by their fire service clients. Helping Heroes is a web-based training package designed to run on all popular software and hardware platforms. Each of the 10 training modules requires approximately one hour to complete, and an additional component serves as a session-by-session toolkit guide.

Online Stress First Aid Training

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Stress First Aid has been identified as the recommended protocol following a Potentially Traumatic Event.  This online training will provide a working knowledge of the practice and principles of Stress First Aid in the fire service.  You must register for a free account with Fire Hero Lerning Network in order to take this course.

Firefighter Life Safety Initiative #13 states: "Firefighters and their families should have access to counseling and psychological support." Stress First Aid (SFA), an important component of fulfilling this Life Safety Initiative, is a set of supportive actions designed to help emergency responders assist each other in reducing the negative impacts of stress. SFA was designed specifically to support firefighters, EMS, and rescue personnel. This module teaches SFA at the awareness level, focusing on:

  • Understanding stress
  • Recognizing how stress manifests in thoughts, words, and actions
  • Delivering the "Seven C's" of Stress First Aid (Check, Coordinate, Cover, Calm, Connect, Competence, Confidence) to each other

This method of assisting a co-worker undergoing stress is practical, flexible, and can be tailored to the specific need.

IAFF Online Behavioral Health Awareness Course

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Course Summary The goal of this course to educate IAFF members on behavioral health issues in the fire service. The course provides a basic overview of common behavioral health problems and available treatment options, information on balancing work and life stressors, and how to improve the behavioral health services offered in local departments. Successful completion of this course is a prerequisite for the IAFF Peer Support Train-the-Trainer Program. You must be an active member with the IAFF and create an online account to take this course.