The city of Dallas will now make mental health leave available to all city employees.
In a unanimous decision, the city council approved a plan to let firefighters take up to 60 hours of paid leave for mental health, while other city employees can take up to 40 hours. Previously it was only available for licensed peace officers.
Mayor Eric Johnson pushed the issue forward by asking the Public Safety Committee to discuss extending mental health leave to firefighters because, like police officers, they experience traumatic incidents in their life-saving line of work.
"We must prioritize the mental health of our firefighters and all of our city employees who provide critical services to our residents," Mayor Johnson said. "Through our vote today, we are sending our firefighters and other city employees a clear message: when you take care of us, we will take care of you."
Councilman Adam Bazaldua says this is long overdue.
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"For the past 30-40 years across our country, data has shown us, that mental health has not been prioritized by our governments, its not been funded and we have seen an increase in need," Bazaldua said.
In the past ten years, five Dallas firefighters have died from suicide. Two of those deaths were just since November.
The committee backed the plan, which is projected to cost about $705,600 annually - $592,782 of which will come from the general fund. The total cost for the rest of the current fiscal year, which ends in October, is estimated to be $411,601.
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