GARLAND (WBAP/KLIF News ) – The mental health of first responders is again being highlighted after the Garland Police Department announced the death of one of its own due to suicide.
Garland Police Chief Jeff Bryan said Lieutenant Chris Carker, a 16-year veteran, took his life over the weekend.
As the department deals with the tragedy, mental health experts are urging first responders facing crisis to seek help.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, first responders are at an elevated risk of suicide due to the environment in which they work. Suicides rates among the first responder community are double that of the rest of society.
There are now programs and hotlines designed specifically for first responders that are tailor made to handle the types of triggers and stress they often face.
“Heroes Program” Executive Director and Vice Chair of UTHealth Houston’s Emergency Medicine Doctor James Langabeer said the “Heroes Helpline” program was created about two years ago to meet a growing need for help among first responders.
“They’re rushing into a fire, they’re patrolling streets where bad things can happen at any turn. You have to have a heightened sense of awareness around you at all times. So, a lot of first responders may suffer from post traumatic stress or stress disorder in general. It’s hard to release the anxiety when you’re out there and you no something bad could happen to you at any point time and its really hard to let that go without some kind of really healthy outlet,” he said.
Dr. Langabeer suggest that collegues, friends and family of first responders watch out for certain behavios that could signal a crisis.
“You’re turning more inward, you’re not wanting to talk as much about your problems, you find that you go to your shift and you come home and you lock yourself in, if you’re spouse or your family is saying something to you and you’re just not yourself…these are all clues that we should be looking for,” said Dr. Langabeer.
The 24/7 helpline offers free, confidential telephone support for first responders in crisis. The number is 833-367-4689.
Click here for more information or to get help.
According to the Texas Law Enforcement Peer Network, 98% of first responder suicides between 2017 and 2021 were police officers.
Copyright 2021. WBAP/KLIF News. All Rights Reserved.
