Brandon Evans shares his journey as a firefighter and the challenges he faced regarding mental health within the fire service. He discusses the inception of his program, Fire to Light, which aims to address mental health issues among firefighters. The conversation delves into good aspects of the culture as well as the cultural issues within firefighting. They discuss the impact of compassion fatigue, and the need for better understanding and training around mental health and addiction. Brandon emphasizes the importance and necessity of addressing the stigma surrounding mental health in the fire service. This conversation delves into the pressing issues surrounding mental health in the fire service, highlighting the increasing psychological injuries among firefighters, the cultural stigma surrounding emotional vulnerability, and the need for a shift towards a more supportive environment. The discussion emphasizes the importance of self-care, breath awareness, mitochondrial health, sleep, and a proactive approach to mental health.Brandon advocates for a ’help first’ mentality to foster trust and well-being among firefighters. Brandon and Ryan discuss the complexities of mental health within the fire service, emphasizing the need for a shift from reactionary measures to proactive mental fitness strategies. They highlight the importance of self-reliance, meaningful connections, and self-care practices among firefighters. The discussion delves into the significance of breathwork and breath awareness as a foundation for well-being and nervous system management. Brandon talks about the necessity of fostering a culture of love and compassion in the firefighting community. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:14 The Birth of Fire to Light 05:54 Personal Journey and Mental Health Awareness 12:15 Challenges in the Fire Service 17:19 Cultural Issues in Firefighting 21:41 Compassion Fatigue and Its Impact 26:10 Understanding Addiction in Fire Culture 30:52 Research Findings and Future Directions 34:00 Understanding Mental Health in the Fire Service 39:03 Cultural Shifts and Emotional Management 43:56 The Importance of Sleep and Self-Care 51:09 Help First: A New Approach to Mental Health 59:09 Challenges in Shifting Fire Service Culture 01:05:48 Understanding Mental Health in the Fire Service 01:09:32 Empowering Firefighters Through Self-Reliance 01:11:23 Cultivating Meaningful Connections in Firefighting 01:17:23 The Importance of Self-Care and Rest 01:20:02 Breathwork as a Tool for Well-Being 01:23:40 Final Reflections on Love and Connection Keywords firefighter mental health, Fire to Light, compassion fatigue, addiction, mental health training, fire service culture, personal journey, mental fitness program, emergency response, mental health awareness, fire service, mental health, emotional management, cultural shifts, self-care, sleep, help first, firefighter wellness, psychological injury, stigma, mental health, fire service, self-reliance, breathwork, well-being, firefighter culture, self-care, empowerment, meaningful connections, emotional health, breath, breathwork, breath awareness, mental fitness, firefighter, first responder, firefighters, PTSI, PTSD, PTS, PTG, psychedelic medicine, mitochondria, mitochondrial health,
