SAFETY STAND DOWN
2026 SUICIDE PREVENTION & AWARENESS
WEEK TWO
Building a Strong Support Network
Week two of the 2026 Safety Stand Down focuses on strengthening the connections that help firefighters navigate difficult times, including our peers, our families, and the broader fire service community. Having people you trust, knowing who you can call, and being willing to check in on someone else can make a difference when things get hard.
We encourage you to lead these conversations and create space for members to engage openly.
WEEK TWO LESSON PLAN
Start the Conversation and set aside time during your shift or training this week to:
Watch this week's video together and talk about what stood out.
How does a strong support network support mental wellness?
Identify the people you can turn to. Who can you call if you are struggling at work or at home?
Consider your circle outside the firehouse. How can we strengthen the relationships with family and friends that help us stay grounded?
The goal isn't to wait until someone reaches a crisis point. It's to build the relationships, trust, and habits of connection that make it easier to ask for help, and easier to offer it, when it's needed.
We encourage you to lead these conversations and, just as importantly, create space for members to talk honestly about the challenges they face and the ways they can support one another.
If you have questions or need support facilitating a conversation, please reach out to your Peer Support leads.
Stand Down materials, including videos, discussion prompts, and printable resources, are available HERE.
WATCH THE VIDEO
WEEK TWO: Social Media Toolkit
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Strong support starts with connecting with those around you. If you or someone you love is a firefighter, you don’t have to face mental health challenges alone.
Connect with firefighter-focused resources and specialized assistance for first responder families today at HealingOurOwn.org
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Strong support starts with connecting with those around you. If you or someone you love is a firefighter, you don’t have to face mental health challenges alone.
Connect with firefighter-focused resources today at HealingOurOwn.org
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You don’t have to face life’s toughest calls alone. Staying connected with your crew, your family, and your community is extremely important and can help build strong support to help you meet every challenge with confidence. Learn more at HealingOurOwn.org
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You don’t have to face life’s toughest calls alone. Staying connected with your crew, family, and community is essential to meeting every challenge with confidence. Learn more: HealingOurOwn.org
#StandDown #SuicidePrevention
MAKE MENTAL HEALTH A PRIORITY
No matter how tough, no one is immune to the anguish that can build from a career of difficult calls.
All too often, we keep the anguish buried inside, afraid to be labeled as weak or unfit. "The 'suck it up, buttercup' mentality believes ... all you need to do is rub some dirt in it and get back out there." The thing is, the same line was used against SCBA, seat belts, turnouts and other safety equipment and practices that are saving firefighter lives. As with any injury, allowing this anguish to fester can lead to unhealthy habits, behaviors, and, sometimes, death. Mental health is medical health.