Essex firefighters are taking part in a study seeking information on the mental health of firefighters during the recent pandemic.
A Drexel University study by Jennifer Taylor hopes the information gathered will help fire department leadership make improvements in taking care of their members.
“We want to bring the fire service up to the 21st century," Essex Battalion Chief Stephen Trenholm, who is in charge of the department's safety program, said in an interview with WCAX.com. “Back when we all first started it was, ‘OK rookie, it’s your first day, shut up, listen, do what I tell you to do, and you’ll be OK.' That’s not how we brought our kids up and that’s not the way we can operate in the fire service anymore.”
There are 17 fire departments across the country participating in the study, which seeks to help agencies better understand and provide mental health services to their members.
