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013 – Mayday For Firefighter Mental Health
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FirefighterToolbox Podcast/ Internet Radio Show Episode #13
Interview with Battalion Chief Patrick Kenny
About This Episode
Chief Patrick Kenny
This interview deals with addressing mental health challenges in the Fire Service and the lack of “tools” to deal with these challenges. The National Fallen Fire Fighters Foundation’s (NFFF) Life Safety Initiative #13 states that “Firefighters and their families must have access to counseling and psychological support.” Are we as a service really addressing this initiative? Chief Kenny comes on to tell us about this and his personal experience with mental health issues and how it can happen to us and to our family. He also talks about the lack of understanding that surrounds mental health. Chief Kenny’s son had a mental health illness and his story is powerful. Learn how the terms mayday and rekindle don’t just apply to the fire ground and what you can do if you are someone who needs help, or what you can do as a fellow firefighter or Chief to assist your brother. I am still thinking about it. I highly encourage you to listen to this one.
About Battalion Chief Patrick Kenny:
Chief Patrick Kenny has been a member of the Fire Service for over 30 years. He retired from the Hinsdale Fire Department with over 24 1\2 years of service, 14 as the Fire Chief and currently serves as the Fire Chief in Western Springs, Illinois. Chief Kenny serves as a member of the Illinois Fire Chief’s Promotional Assessment Board, the Illinois Fire Chief’s Educational Foundation and is a Past President of the Illinois Fire Chief’s Association. Chief Kenny holds a Bachelors Degree from Loyola University in Psychology and an Associates Degree from the College of DuPage in Fire Science. Chief Kenny recently received the highest certification in the state of Illinois for a Chief Officer. He is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer program at the National Fire Academy and is a current recipient of Chief Officer Designation by the International Fire Chiefs’ Association. Chief Kenny is an Instructor for the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, Illinois Fire Service Institute and Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy (NIPSTA). He has articles published in the areas of leadership, fireground safety, mental health and fire code challenges. Chief Kenny has twice been awarded the Fire Prevention Achievement Award by the Illinois Fire Inspector’s Association as well as the Richard Arthur Lifetime Achievement Award. Chief Kenny was recognized by the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association as Fire Chief of the Year for 2004 and was nominated for the same award by Fire Chief Magazine for the International Fire Chiefs that same year.
He is married and has 3 sons.
About the FirefighterToolbox Podcast/Internet Radio Show
The FirefighterToolbox Podcast/Internet Radio Show is audio program for up and coming firefighters and leaders who want to become better at the ever evolving skill of firefighting and to continue growing into a better leader. We interview great firefighters and officers and others who can bring great ideas, insights and information and share it with us so we can take our skills to the next level. New episodes every Tuesday. (Most listen to it on the commute to work, working out, doing chores or as a company training.)
To learn more about the show– Click Here
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Mentioned on the Show
Firefighter Close Calls: Personal Survival
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Email Contact for Chief Patrick Kenny: [email protected]
Additional Resources
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David and Chief Kenny,
Just wanted to pass on some good news. I shared this podcast with friends and one of them (and EMS Chief in Harford County) is contacting the state CISM team to set up a county wide training to talk about PTSD and incident stress for sometime in the Spring. Thanks again for spreading awareness!
Thanks for sharing and discussing such a hard and taboo topic. It is very true about not giving the guys we work with credit and the ability to help us through hard times.