Who We Are
Founder, Jeff Dill, retired Captain of the Palatine Rural Fire Protection District in Inverness, IL, started Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA) to directly educate firefighters/ Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel and their families about behavioral health issues such as depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety and addictions, as well as firefighter suicides.
The rapidly increasing number of firefighter suicides is jaw dropping, and as a Licensed Professional Counselor, Jeff knows firsthand that firefighters and EMS personnel are faced with emotional needs that are very unique to their occupations, and many are struggling from career related stress. When symptoms occur, they need a support system in place that is readily accessible from someone who is qualified and truly understands his or her circumstances.
FBHA’s goal is to provide behavioral health workshops to fire departments and EMS organizations across the globe, focusing on behavioral health awareness with a strong drive towards suicide prevention and promoting resources available to firefighters/EMS and their families. Specific behavioral health workshops will include “An Internal Size-Up” which educates fire personnel on how to look for signs and symptoms of behavioral health problems, how to communicate with their employees, confidentiality, and roles/responsibilities and “Saving Those Who Save Others.” Workshops also can be directed at spouses/partners and children of firefighters/EMS. FBHA’s goal is to promote good mental health to the men and women of the fire service/EMS and their families, as well as make a significant difference in reducing the number of personnel that are turning to suicide to ease their pain. In an effort to meet demand, we have hired Ambassadors to spread the word across the US and Canada. We have also added instructors to facilitate the high demand for workshops.
FBHA is also focused on training for EAP organizations, Professional Clinicians, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Doctors, Social Workers, Marriage Counselors, Chaplains and those dedicated to helping firefighters. “A Firefighter’s Life”, educates about the culture of firefighters, myths and beliefs of behavioral health and the mentality of being a firefighter. An emphasis of the workshop is placed on the education of basic terminology, understanding emotional and physical stressors, addictions, suicide information, role-play, group discussion, and search & rescue exercise and question/answer session with the instructor.
FBHA’s initiative is also designed to develop funding to assist surviving family members of firefighter/EMS suicides, host retreats for the families of firefighter suicides, and offer an educational scholarship program for children, spouses, partners of firefighter suicide victims, as well as support firefighters and their families suffering from behavioral health issues.
The mission of FBHA is to collaborate, develop and implement behavioral health awareness, prevention, intervention, and post crisis strategies to provide firefighters with an easily accessible and confidential source of information. Using best practices and protocols, FBHA promotes awareness, education and training, communication, integration of services, resources and support to the men and women of the fire service and EMS. In furtherance of these goals, FBHA undertakes educational projects aimed at chaplain programs that deal with behavioral health issues of firefighters/EMS, survivors and their families. Contributions to FBHA may be deductible from Federal income as a charitable donation.
Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
About Jeff Dill
In 2009, founder Jeff Dill, organized Counseling Services for Fire Fighters. CSFF was established based on the tragic events that surrounded Hurricane Katrina. When speaking with firefighters who returned after serving the community of New Orleans, he heard the pleas of firefighters who had a difficult time talking with counselors who did not have any firefighting experience. They became frustrated and never did seek the help they needed. It was CSFF mission to offer behavioral health workshops to support firefighters, train senior officers and educate clinicians on the benefits of understanding the life and emotions of firefighters. On 12/31/14, CSFF donated all of their intellectual property to FBHA.
In 2011, Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance was established to directly educate firefighters/ Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel and their families about behavioral health issues such as depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety and addictions, as well as firefighter suicides. Through businesses, community support and sponsorships, it is our hope that the workshops and services will be offered at no charge to those in need.
Jeff holds a Master’s degree and is a Licensed Counselor. He is a retired Captain from Palatine Rural Fire Protection District in Inverness, Illinois and is a member of the American Counseling Association, National Board of Certified Counselors, International Associations of Fire Chiefs, and is an alumni member of the International Association of Fire Fighters. In July of 2021, Jeff accepted the position of Behavioral Health Administrator with Las Vegas Fire & Rescue.
Jeff Dill, and those working with FBHA are dedicated to educating firefighters and emergency service personnel on the importance of behavioral health and suicide awareness.