Adam: “I thought I was covering it up, but in reality, I really needed help”
Devon and Somerset firefighter, Adam Payne, shares how a week at Harcombe House provided the reassurance he needed during a challenging period for his mental health.
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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.
Paddy: “There are a lot of people who don’t know they need help – I was one of them”
Northern Ireland Group Commander, Paddy Quinn, tried our HOPE Programme so he could recommend it to his trainees, never expecting the benefits it would have for him too.
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.
Lewis: “By managing your mental wellbeing early, you’re ready when life throws challenges your way”
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: “We join this job to help people… what we’re not so great at is helping ourselves”
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.