The Grieving Behind the Badge training program addresses stress and grief and promotes emotional wellness for everyone. Throughout the training, firefighters are encouraged to openly share their anxieties in a safe environment. Interactive dialogue provides opportunities to discuss issues that cause nightmares, family discontent, substance abuse, and thoughts of suicide. They learn coping skills for job-related stress issues as well as personal life traumas. Firefighters realize they are not alone in their thoughts and feelings.
Family members can discuss their needs as well as their fears and frustrations.
Fire department chaplains receive information to help them provide emotional support to firefighters and their families. Additional programs on coping with grief can be offered to families and departments who have experienced a line of duty or non-duty related death of a firefighter. Recruits receive valuable information and coping skills that can prevent long-term stress and grief. As a result of the Grieving Behind the Badge program, firefighters, their families, and chaplains have a better understanding of stress and grief and the effects they have on their lives. Moreover, everyone can gain the knowledge necessary to resolve many of their professional and personal problems as a result of the information and resources that are provided.