WILMINGTON — Mental health struggles have Wilmington’s firefighters battling more than flames. Through a new initiative, the Wilmington Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 129 plans to address their members’ psychiatric needs as they navigate their roles as first responders.
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Through a partnership with Allora Rise Counseling and Therapy, the initiative aims to provide mental health support through free counseling or therapy sessions, with the goal to improve coping mechanisms due to the emotional toll of the job.
According to the International Association of Firefighters Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery — a treatment facility specializing in PTSD for professional fire service members who struggle with trauma, substance use, addiction and other related behavioral health challenges — approximately 20% of firefighters and paramedics in the U.S. meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress at some point during their careers. This is compared to a 6.8% lifetime risk for the general population.
The center also has reported behavioral health disorders among firefighters often stem from chronic stress and repeated exposure to traumatic incidents.
The new program for Local 129 firefighters is available to the association’s 150 individual members — about 75% of Wilmington’s fire department — and immediate family members.
The impetus to begin the program started when the association sought mental health support for a few of its members and was pointed in Allora Rise’s direction. After reaching out to learn about support the clinic could offer, Jordan Pettid, president of the Wilmington Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 129, said the owner was immediately receptive.
“It was very surprising how quick they said yes,” he said. “I thought it was going to be a lot harder just because we’ve never really done something like that, but they were more than accommodating and wanted to help in any way they possibly could.”
The partnership began last week.
Allora Rise has offices in Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach to provide in-person and telehealth sessions. With nine therapists, the team offers a range of services with each member specializing in different areas, including treatment of anxiety, trauma, ADHD, insomnia and help for those seeking support through life transitions.
Stefanie Roback, Allora Rise’s owner, and her team of therapists are offering pro-bono services.
“I entered the mental health space to serve others, as did the other therapists at Allora,” Roback said. “When we came to know the barriers these men and women are facing, we felt the call to step in and do what we can to serve the need.”
Before Allora Rise offered to take on cases for free, Pettid was unsure how the association would cover the program and contemplated contributing a portion of their member fees to it.
“Our membership fees aren’t astronomical so they wouldn’t have been able to pay for very much, especially if we were trying to get it for the whole membership,” he said. “If we were trying to get it for the whole membership and having to pay full cost we couldn’t cover but one or two people every few months to go.”
Pettid, who also served in the U.S. military, said he personally struggled with mental health in the past and experienced how hard it can be to get help when needed. He didn’t want a barrier to cost playing a role in receiving help. He also hopes by offering the services to everyone, it normalizes mental health treatment and care.
“It took my wife begging me to go do that stuff for years before I was like: ‘OK, fine,’ but I think the stigma is going away to a certain extent,” he said.
In addition to serving its members, Pettid said he wanted to make sure Local 129 families were included because he said they’re often overlooked.
“We’ve never really had anything that would help your family,” he said. “I’m sure they’re going through stuff that they don’t talk to us about as we bring home things from the job.”
Roback said everyone benefits from taking care of their mental health but that first responders may need additional attention due to frequent encounters with high stress situations, trauma, and difficult shift schedules that can impact day-to-day life. This, in turn, also affects sleep schedules and relationships with family.
“They take on the duty of protecting our city as their job and we value the importance of looking out for their mental health,” Roback said.
Like any therapy session, those seeking help can contact Allora Rise directly and let them know they’re a part of the firefighters association to receive treatment. Interested parties will not have to alert stations they are using the service. To confirm they are members, Allora Rise’s staff will check names against a list of association members.
“Their confidentiality is so important to us and their identity would not be shared with the association or fire department or that they’re seeking services with us,” Roback said.
Roback also plans to bring mental health information and resources to local stations and association meetings, and wants to speak with its members during their August meeting. The goal is to build a relationship and connect with others to further initiate comfort between the two parties.
Pettid hopes if the partnership proves helpful to the association’s members, fire departments and associations in surrounding areas may look at implementing similar plans.
“It’s very much needed and maybe it’ll open a door for different programs or fire departments to think outside of the box to come up with ideas on how to offer services like this,” he said. “The companies, the counseling services are out there, and there are people who want to help. You gotta seek it out and find who that is.”
Have tips or suggestions for Sophia Walsh? Email sophia@localdailymedia.com
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