Guillaume and Samuel’s story: A conversation about the firefighter brotherhood

To honour our firefighter community’s strength and to help raise awareness for the importance of mental health in these roles, we spoke with two firefighters from two different halls, but brought together by Movember to share their experiences, message and hope for the future.

Why did you get involved with Movember?

Samuel: We have always been very involved in the community in Waterloo. For several years, I have been participating in Movember with my colleagues from Shefford, and last year, I decided to set up a small competition between the fire services in the community, to raise funds. Being predominantly men on the team, we are very concerned about the cause.

Guillaume: We are regularly confronted with tragic events, which has the effect of creating post-traumatic stress and depression. More and more, we learn to release this pressure and we talk about it. For me, Movember is about bringing this vulnerability to light, and it’s one more way to create brotherhood.

At what point in your career did you realize the importance of mental health in your work?

Samuel: During training, a teacher had imagined the weight of interventions on mental health and I always kept this idea in mind. Each intervention is a drop of water in our glass, each intervention fills our glass with personal water and it is our duty to ensure that we empty our glass before it overflows.

Guillaume: As you get older, each intervention lasts, it's a full drawer that we learn to close in our heads. Unfortunately, over time the dresser can become full. This is why we must be vigilant.

What is your message to other firefighters regarding mental health?

Samuel: Don't be embarrassed. Don't be ashamed and above all, don't wait. The longer you wait, the more space the demon takes up. As a firefighter, we have the wrong thought that we must always be strong, but we have the right to put one knee on the ground and in turn ask for help. Life is too short to be unhappy!

Guillaume: Don't wait for it to pass on its own. We are human and we must speak out, so as not to find ourselves confronted with mental illness. The time of “indestructible and superhero” firefighters is over. We have the right to take a knee. And the “Bros” are there for that too.

What conversations do you hope to start in the firefighting community?

Samuel: In my opinion, we should not initiate, but continue and increase the conversation about mental health in the barracks. I believe that it is everyone's duty to detect a colleague who is not doing well. You should never keep things to yourself, find someone you trust and express yourself, free yourself.

Guillaume: If we want to continue to help others, we must be willing to do so. This requires physical fitness, of course, but above all mental fitness. The emergency environment is psychologically tough. Stay attentive.