Wildland Firefighters Behavioral Health Awareness

This presentation involves an overview of behavioral health awareness for wildland firefighters, with an emphasis on understanding emotional and physical stressors. This course covers communication skills, addiction, depression, PTSD/PTSI, suicide statistics, retirement and creating a behavioral health program. The program will:

Introduce participants to emotional and behavioral awareness.
Introduce participants to the various emotional stressors that affect EMS providers, including stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, suicide, and other behaviors.
Discuss Cultural Brainwashing
Discuss suicide rates within the EMS and fire services.

Jeff Dill

In 2009, founder Jeff Dill, organized Counseling Services for Fire Fighters (CSFF). CSFF was established based on the tragic events that surrounded Hurricane Katrina. When speaking with firefighters who returned after serving the community of New Orleans, he heard the pleas of firefighters who had a difficult time talking with counselors who did not have any firefighting experience. They became frustrated and never did seek the help they needed. It was CSFF mission to offer behavioral health workshops to support firefighters, train senior officers and educate clinicians on the benefits of understanding the life and emotions of firefighters. On 12/31/14, CSFF donated all of their intellectual property to FBHA.

In 2011, Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance was established to directly educate firefighters/ Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel and their families about behavioral health issues such as depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety and addictions, as well as firefighter suicides. Through businesses, community support and sponsorships, it is our hope that the workshops and services will be offered at no charge to those in need.

Jeff holds a Master’s degree and is a Licensed Counselor. He is a retired Captain from Palatine Rural Fire Protection District in Inverness, Illinois and is a member of the American Counseling Association, National Board of Certified Counselors, International Associations of Fire Chiefs, and is an alumni member of the International Association of Fire Fighters. In July of 2021, Jeff accepted the position of Behavioral Health Administrator with Las Vegas Fire & Rescue.

Jeff Dill, and those working with FBHA are dedicated to educating firefighters and emergency service personnel on the importance of behavioral health and suicide awareness.