Kansas City, MO - A Ruderman Family Foundation study found that for the third year in a row, more first responders die by suicide than in the line of duty.
Last August a bill for peer counseling was passed in hopes of changing those numbers, according to Brad Lemon, President at Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police.
"The job of a peer councilor is to guide, help members through issues, and get them to the right resources," says Lemon, "There's a stigma when it comes to mental illness."
He says we need to do a better job of recognizing those in need. Signs to look for are changes in personality or habits, along with decreased job performance and withdrawing from relationships.