Firefighters are built to handle the heat—but what about the invisible battles they face daily?
In Episode 74 of Beneath the Helmet, I had the privilege of sitting down with Keith Hanks, a former firefighter turned mental health advocate, to have a raw and unfiltered conversation about the struggles first responders face, the importance of speaking up, and the power of resilience.
Keith’s story is one of survival, strength, and transformation. He shares his deeply personal journey through PTSD, multiple suicide attempts, and the process of reclaiming his life—culminating in the release of his book, Allen. His advocacy work today is helping shift the culture in the fire service to one where mental health is no longer ignored but openly discussed.
This episode is honest, emotional, and necessary for anyone in the fire service, emergency response, or leadership positions who wants to understand better the weight of the job and how to support those who carry it.
Breaking the Silence: A Conversation That Needs to Happen
The fire service has long prided itself on toughness and resilience, but that toughness has been mistaken for silence for too long. When firefighters and first responders hide their struggles, the consequences can be devastating.
🚨 "Nobody’s going to reach out if we’re not making the atmosphere so they can reach out." – Keith Hanks
Keith speaks candidly about the six suicide attempts he survived—the last one in December 2019, where a gun jammed in his hand. That moment was a turning point, but not immediately. It took inpatient treatment, deep reflection, and a commitment to healing before he realized that his survival was not an accident—it was a sign that his story needed to be told.
💬 "I need to be here. Life can suck, life does suck, but I need to be here. I’m supposed to be." – Keith Hanks
5 Nuggets from This Episode: Lessons on Healing & Resilience
1️⃣ The Fire Service Needs to Prioritize Mental Health, Like Physical Training
Firefighters train rigorously for physical challenges—throwing ladders, advancing hose lines, performing rescues—but what if we put that same effort into mental fitness?
🗣 "One of the things that I see happening… is that there’s a lot more emphasis on health and wellness. People are realizing that physical and mental wellness go hand in hand. You need the whole picture." – Keith Hanks
2️⃣ Talking About Suicide Prevention Doesn’t Cause More Suicide
There’s a harmful myth that the more we talk about suicide, the more we put the idea in people’s heads. Keith completely shuts this down.
🚨 "Being someone who’s tried to end his life six times, that’s a load of crap. If there were more people around me who were willing to talk about this, I probably would have had it in my mind less." – Keith Hanks
Silence breeds shame, and shame keeps people from getting help. The solution isn’t to talk about it less—it’s to talk about it more.
3️⃣ Resilience Isn’t About White-Knuckling Through Pain
Many first responders see "resilience" as powering through no matter what, but Keith explains that true resilience is about acknowledging when you need help and taking action.
💡 "White-knuckling is horseshit. It’s going to eventually fail. You’re eventually going to break down, and your white-knuckling is only going to get you so far." – Keith Hanks
4️⃣ The Younger Firefighter Generation is Demanding Change
Unlike previous generations that were told to “suck it up,” younger firefighters expect their departments to take care of them—mentally, physically, and emotionally.
🔥 "The Millennials, the younger generation that’s coming into this job, are really bringing with them some expectations. And one of those biggest expectations is being taken care of. They don’t want to just be a number. They want to know that when they start to break a little bit, they’ll be taken care of." – Keith Hanks
5️⃣ Everyone Has a Superpower—Find Yours
Keith’s book, Allen, is named after his dissociative identity—a part of him that carried him through life’s hardest moments. He now sees this as a superpower—a strength that helped him survive.
🦸 "We all have this superhuman part of us that gets us through some of the horrible shit in life." – Keith Hanks
A Message to the Fire Service: We Can Do Better
One of the most powerful moments in this episode is Keith’s challenge to the fire service:
💬 "We have to start talking more about this. If we want to reduce firefighter suicides, we have to talk about it, even when it’s uncomfortable." – Keith Hanks
This conversation isn’t just about Keith’s story—it’s about every firefighter, first responder, and leader in emergency services who has struggled in silence. It’s about changing the culture so that no firefighter feels alone in their battle with mental health.
🎧 Listen Now & Join the Conversation
This episode is raw, real, and absolutely necessary. If you’re a firefighter, a first responder, or someone who wants to be part of the change, tune in now.
🎙️ Listen to Episode 74 here: https://www.beneaththehelmet.ca/unpacking-firefighter-wellness-why-are-we-afraid/
📢 Subscribe to Beneath the Helmet for more powerful conversations on firefighter health, leadership, and resilience.
🔗 Don’t forget to share this episode with your crew, department, or anyone who needs to hear it. Together, we can change the culture.
#BeneathTheHelmetPodcast #FirefighterMentalHealth #ResilienceAndHealing #BreakingTheStigma #SuicidePreventionAwareness #LeadershipInFireService #FirstResponderWellness
