Firefighters across Minnesota are seeking help for post-traumatic stress in unprecedented numbers.
George Esbensen, president of the Minnesota Firefighters Initiative (MnFire), told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that more firefighters are reaching out for assistance with mental health issues. In 2023, 1,400 firefighters sought help, and over 900 have done so this year as of August.
“The world is not getting calmer or less complex,” Esbensen said.
Many firefighters also work as EMS providers, and violence against them has been on the rise, Esbensen noted. “The fire service is also exposed to increased chaos and disorder,” he added.
At a recent meeting of the Minneapolis City Council’s Health and Public Safety Committee, Fire Chief Bryan Tyner shared that his department, the largest in the state, has also seen a surge in post-traumatic stress cases in 2024.
“We’re seeing a significant rise in mental health claims, and we’re doing everything we can to support our personnel,” Tyner said.
Last year, MnFire’s Hometown Heroes Assistance Program provided $2.2 million in aid to 177 firefighters and their families to address mental health and other medical needs.
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