Portland Fire and Rescue ramps up suicide prevention training
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Over the next several weeks, Portland Fire and Rescue will roll out suicide prevention training to firehouses all across the city.
PF&R Lieutenant Paramedic Sean Fogarty told KOIN 6 News he and his colleagues at North Portland Firehouse 24 welcome the training.
"We're ready to treat people in a variety of ways," Fogarty said. "We've got a plan for all of it."
Building that confidence took time, especially a few years back when first responders were overwhelmed by suicide calls from the nearby Fremont Bridge.
Back in November, PF&R helped Portland police rescue a woman in crisis from under the bridge.
PF&R said it's due to underfunding of the Portland Police Bureau service that firefighters often respond to these calls more frequently. They're often the first to arrive.
As a result, PF&R has decided to ramp up its crisis training from just 60 firefighters to everyone.
"What we quickly found out was really what we were practicing was empathetic communication, de-escalation," Fogarty said.
The training includes techniques for calming individuals in crisis through active listening, making them feel seen and supported.
Tara Stein is PF&R's Behavioral Health Coordinator. Her message: "There's always help."
Because Stein is married to a firefighter, the mission is personal.
"Knowing that it's a hard job, knowing that they need support and resources," she said.
Stein said she's dedicated to ensuring every firefighter is ready to save lives, whether that's from a blaze, a heart attack or someone in despair.
PF&R is leveraging grant-funded training from a few years ago to spread that knowledge city-wide.
"You do not know which person will be interacting with someone on scene initially, and that initial contact can be very important," Stein said.
The end goal is to connect the person to the appropriate resources for continued help. But first, they have to feel like life is worth living.
"When it comes down to it, they really need to feel seen and heard in the moment, and feel that they're not alone," Fogarty said.
PF&R said they're ramping up their training in case they're the first to respond. However, crisis intervention calls are often a collaborative effort between police, firefighters and mental health agencies.
If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, facing a mental health crisis or have concerns about drugs or alcohol use, call the 988 Lifeline.