It's Mental Health Awareness Month. Seek help if you need it

Canton Repository

The Canton community experienced a devastating reminder last week about the stressful job faced by first responders.

Police, firefighters and paramedics — not to mention our military members and those in the medical community —see and encounter horrific, heartbreaking situations in their daily work, ranging from people being injured and abused to death and dying.

Experiencing the emotions brought on by those experiences once, let alone on a regular basis, can take a toll on one's mental health, especially for people who enter such professions to help and serve others.

Jared Kneale, a popular 42-year-old city firefighter/paramedic, died by suicide brought on by a "post traumatic stress related illness," the Canton Fire Department announced. Kneale had worked for the city for eight years, and previously was employed as a firefighter in Wadsworth.

As his family, friends and fellow firefighters struggled with the news, the department said it was publicizing the cause of death at the request of Kneale and with permission from his family to help bring awareness to firefighter mental health.

"We MUST and we WILL make something positive come out of Jared's death," the department pledged.

Firefighters no doubt have dangerous physical jobs. But they also are challenged by the mental aspects of the profession.

At least 100 firefighters a year die by suicide, according to the National Fallen Firefighters Association.

The group noted that a study by the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology concluded that about "20% of firefighters and paramedics meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress at some point during their careers compared to a 6.8% lifetime risk for the general population. The connection between PTSD and traumatizing rescue work is clear."

Kneale's death just happened to occur during Mental Health Awareness Month, a time when we are supposed to focus on our well-being and provide support for others who may be struggling.

We encourage anyone who is having difficulty in their lives to reach out for help, especially those first responders who are always there in our time of need.

Where to get help

If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. The following resources are available:

  • Stark County Crisis Hotline: 330-452-6000

  • Crisis Text Line, text ‘4hope’ to 741-741

  • Trevor Project Lifeline for LGBTQ youth: 866-488-7386

  • Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860

  • CommQuest Detox at Aultman Hospital: 330-830-3393

  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: 800-662-4357

This article originally appeared on The Repository: It's Mental Health Awareness Month. Seek help if you need it

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