John: “I would wake up in panics, to the point I was scared of going to sleep”
John Aitchison has candidly shared his journey with mental health challenges to encourage others across the fire service to reach out for help sooner than he did.
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Find out how Fire Fighters Charity has supported service users across the UK and how you can share your story with the fire community. Click categories or regions below to filter the list of stories.
Watch Manager Lewis Jeffery has become one of our volunteer facilitators on the HOPE Programme after discovering the difference it can make to overall mental health first-hand. Rich Welch, Assistant Chief Fire Office with Avon FRS, shares how a call to us following the Grenfell Tower tragedy proved life-changing for him. Through some incredible fundraising efforts, Lauren Turner has already raised thousands of pounds to support fire service personnel – just like her husband, Ross – across the UK. Firefighter Drew Telfer has received counselling support as well as attending our Reset Programme at Harcombe House – both of which he says have massively improved his mental wellbeing.
Lewis: “By managing your mental wellbeing early, you’re ready when life throws challenges your way”
Rich: “We join this job to help people… what we’re not so great at is helping ourselves”
Lauren: “You helped my husband with his mental health – now I’m running the London Marathon in thanks”
Drew: “Since contacting the charity, my life has improved massively – I’m so grateful”