No family should have to experience the devastating effects of suicide and we want to remind our fire services community this World Suicide Prevention Day, 10 September, that we’re here for you and your loved ones.
Today and for 24 hours every day, the Fire Fighters Charity Crisis Line is open if you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts. Available on 0300 373 0896, the line offers immediate and ongoing suicide and mental health crisis care for past and present UK fire services personnel. You can find out more here.
Sherine Wheeler, Chief Executive of Fire Fighters Charity, says: “Sadly, within the fire family we continue to be affected by heartbreaking losses to suicide. Today, like every day, we want to open up the conversation around suicide, so that we can prevent more families from experiencing its devastating impact.
“As the fire and rescue service’s health and wellbeing charity, we are doing all we can to prevent these tragedies through our dedicated 24/7 Crisis Line, specialist resources and ongoing mental health support for all those in our fire family.
“Whether a member of our fire family is in pain, feeling anxious, stressed or lonely, we can help. It’s never too late to talk and ask for help. Our Fire Fighters Charity Crisis Line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – 0300 373 0896.”
In line with this year’s theme for World Suicide Prevention Day – to start the conversation around suicide – we partnered with Hampshire and Isle of Wight FRS to create a short film to promote the importance of reaching out for help. You can watch it above.
Below, you’ll find a quick guide to some of our vital mental wellbeing resources:
Is your life in danger?
If you have seriously harmed yourself or you’re putting plans in place to do so, call 999 for an ambulance or go straight to A&E. If you can’t do so yourself, ask someone else to do so for you.
Fire Fighters Charity Crisis Line
Our Fire Fighters Charity Crisis Line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, offering immediate and ongoing suicide and mental health crisis care for past and present UK fire services personnel. The number to call is: 0300 373 0896 and you can find out more here.
Suicide prevention resources
Suicide can affect anyone, and anyone might have thoughts about taking their own life. This means it can appear unpredictable and difficult to understand – it isn’t caused by any one thing, and there’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach to prevention. But there are things you can do to help.
We have a range of online resources available to you, as well as videos and questions, which you can find here:
Online courses and programmes
Accessible through My Fire Fighters Charity and our website, we have a host of online courses that can help with everything from sleep, stress and general anxiety, to building resilience, strengthening relationships and preventing burnout. Browse those here:
Meanwhile, we also offer our online Hope Programme throughout the year. Aimed at combatting stress and anxiety, the self-directed programme – run in partnership with Hope For The Community – can be taken completely at your own pace, and accessed via phone or tablet too.
As well as the main programme which is open to all beneficiaries, we also have spaces on a Retirement Hope Programme in September too, which is specifically aimed at helping you prepare for and maintain wellness in your retirement – whatever stage you may be at. It includes practical support to guide you through the next important stage of your life, as well as bespoke resources around transitioning towards retirement.
See our upcoming dates and find out more:
Reset Programme
- Do you feel stressed or anxious… is this starting to affect your overall wellbeing?
- Are you living with a long-term health condition that’s impacting on your wellbeing?
- Are you struggling to get a good night’s sleep? Are you irritable and unable to cope due to fatigue?
- Are you struggling with chronic pain that is stopping you living the life you want to lead?
Our Reset Programme offers you the opportunity to develop and improve your resilience and overall mental fitness, with a programme of workshops and activities tailored to your individual needs.
Find out more here:
Webinars and workshops
Our teams regularly run free online webinars and workshops, on a broad range of mental health and wellbeing subjects.
From stress, anxiety and sleep issues, to building resilience and understanding the menopause, we’re happy to run webinars and workshops on any of the health and wellbeing issues affecting you and your family.
You can many of our webinars live, or you can watch them back on ShoutTV!, our YouTube channel.
Rest and Recharge stays
We know the huge pressures members of our fire services community face every day.
Perhaps you’re a firefighter or a member of support staff dealing with difficult shouts? Or you’re a family member of someone working in the service and you can see the impact it’s having on your loved one? Or maybe you’re facing a difficult time in your life due to unforeseen circumstances and feel in need of a break, whether working or retired?
We can offer anyone in need of some time out, whether on their own or with their family members, a chance to recharge at one of our centres. Find out more here:
Further support
You can find support for mental wellbeing and suicide-related issues from the organisations listed below.
Have you lost a loved one to suicide?
The loss of someone you love to suicide can be extremely traumatic and painful. The way in which we grieve is personal and we all need to find a way that is right for us.
We have a range of postvention resources available which you can find here:
