MSI Press Blog

  Today's Publisher's Pride is  Mental Health Mayday,  by Gregg Bagdade, which reached #161 on Amazon's bestseller list for psychology education and training and #196 for safety and first aid. Reviewer:  "saved my life" Book description: From their swearing-in all to the way until retirement, even the most hardened firefighters can be affected by mental health concerns. A fascinating look behind the scenes of the career of a firefighter, this book explores the why and explains the how to better prepare these individuals for a healthy and productive career and life, based on the author's personal experience as a counselor, who also has 27 years as a firefighter and paramedic. Firefighters can learn how to acknowledge their mental health issues, such as PTSD, addiction, or anger issues while developing strategies to address these concerns with techniques and solutions throughout their career. This powerful book is part memoir and part call to action. Through the...

  Firefighters are trained to face flames, chaos, and collapse—but what happens when the fire is internal? Depression is a silent crisis in the fire service. The culture of stoicism, long shifts, traumatic exposure, and disrupted sleep all contribute to a mental health landscape that’s often overlooked. While the public sees heroes, many firefighters quietly battle invisible wounds. 📊 What the Numbers Say 12% of firefighters experience clinical depression, according to a meta-analysis of 40 studies. In disaster zones, that number spikes to 24% . 16% screened positive for major depressive disorder in a 2022 IAFF survey of over 8,000 firefighters. Depression often coexists with PTSD— 50% of those with PTSD also meet criteria for major depressive disorder. Suicide risk is alarmingly high: 28% of firefighters report suicidal thoughts, and 15.5% have attempted suicide—more than triple the general population. These aren’t just numbers. They’re lives. They’re colleagues. They’r...

  Today's Publisher's Pride is  Mental Health Mayday,  by Gregg Bagdade, which reached #161 on Amazon's bestseller list for psychology education and training and #196 for safety and first aid. Reviewer:  "saved my life" Book description: From their swearing-in all to the way until retirement, even the most hardened firefighters can be affected by mental health concerns. A fascinating look behind the scenes of the career of a firefighter, this book explores the why and explains the how to better prepare these individuals for a healthy and productive career and life, based on the author's personal experience as a counselor, who also has 27 years as a firefighter and paramedic. Firefighters can learn how to acknowledge their mental health issues, such as PTSD, addiction, or anger issues while developing strategies to address these concerns with techniques and solutions throughout their career. This powerful book is part memoir and part call to action. Through the...