fbpx

Mayor Johnson Requests Mental Health Leave Option for Firefighters

Mayor Johnson Talks Addresses Mental Health Leave for Firefighters
Firefighter sitting down stressed in a Fire Station. | Image by Pawel Gaul

On January 31, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson sent a memorandum to the Chairman of Dallas City Council’s Public Safety Committee Adam McGough, regarding mental health leave for firefighters and paramedics. Mayor Johnson wants them to look into mental health leave due to these first responders, quite often, coming face-to-face with traumatic experiences while in the line of duty.

In the letter, Mayor Johnson suggested that the Public Safety Committee review Chapter 34 of the Dallas City Code, marked as “Personnel Rules.” Johnson highlighted that the current code only allows licensed peace officers to obtain mental health leave. He believes it should extend to all first responders of Dallas. 

According to The Dallas Morning News, in October 2021, police officers were granted mental health leave for five days in one fiscal year by the City Council with the approval of a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist. 

Mayor Johnson expressed within the letter that firefighters experience many of the same situations as Dallas police officers, witnessing, helping, and supporting citizens while they go through, many times, the worst of moments. 

Firefighters put their lives at risk to save others within the community, and situations arise while on the job that can be stressful and even mentally damaging, Johnson said. These first responders have also been called to scenes with active-shooters, and consistently tackle dangerous fires.

Johnson shared that first responders receiving mental health leave should be a top priority, and he wants this matter to be discussed sooner rather than later. He is also seeking opinions from the Public Safety Committee on how mental health needs can be improved for all first responders. 

Jim McDade, President of the Dallas Fire Fighters Association, said that at least five members of the group had committed suicide in the last five years. “I think it’s something that gets overlooked, and we need to address it and start taking our mental health more seriously.”

In response to Mayor Johnson’s memorandum, Chairman McGough stated, “The mental and emotional wellbeing of all of our city’s first responders, including our firefighters, is critical. Not only is it the right thing to do to extend to our firefighters and paramedics the same paid mental-health leave benefit currently extended to our licensed police officers, but also, it is a key component of public safety in Dallas. I appreciate the Mayor’s prioritization of this issue and believe my colleagues, and I need to do our part to support our firefighters and paramedics who are subjected like police officers to serious, work-related traumas and stress. It’s time for our city’s leaders to send a strong message to the men and women who serve in the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department that their mental health matters, too.”

The next Public Safety Committee meeting is scheduled for February 14, where city officials will discuss the matter further.

Support our non-profit journalism

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Continue reading on the app
Expand article