Behavioral health center for firefighters opens in Arleta - LA Daily News

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At a time when the suicide rate among firefighters increasingly concerns officials, fire crews and their families have a new center in a former firehouse where they can go for behavioral health treatment.

United Firefighters of Los Angeles City and Los Angeles Fire Department officially opened the Center for Health & Wellness in Arleta at Old LAFD Fire Station 7 on Monday, Sept. 28, during National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

The center is the first in the state to serve firefighters and their families with counseling, stress management, resiliency training and alcohol and drug addictions. The UFLAC/LAFD 24/7 Peer Support Team, with 100 firefighter members, will also be run out of the center.

• LAFD Chief Ralph Terrazas speaks about loosing firefighters to suicide and the need for behavioral health during the opening of UFLAC/LAFD Center for Health & Wellness in Arleta on Monday, September 28, 2020. California Secretary of State Alex Padilla and LA City Council President Nury Martinez were on hand for the opening. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

• Dr. Steven Froehlich, director of Behavioral Health Services for United Firefighters of LA City, speaks during the opening of UFLAC/LAFD Center for Health & Wellness, a place for behavioral health for firefighters and their families which Froehlich runs in Arleta on Monday, September 28, 2020. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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• Carol Tucker, who lost her firefighter husband Richard to suicide, leans against a fire truck after she spoke of the recovery process for her and her daughters during the opening of the UFLAC/LAFD Center for Health & Wellness, a place for behavioral health for firefighters and their families in Arleta on Monday, September 28, 2020. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

• LA Fire Captain Frank Lima welcomes President Nury Martinez to the opening of the UFLAC/LAFD Center for Health & Wellness, a place for behavioral health for firefighters and their families at Old LAFD Fire Station 7 in Arleta on Monday, September 28, 2020. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

• LA Fire Captain Frank Lima, vp of international association of firefighters, speaks during the opening of the UFLAC/LAFD Center for Health & Wellness, a place for behavioral health for firefighters and their families at Old LAFD Fire Station 7 in Arleta on Monday, September 28, 2020. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

• President Nury Martinez cuts the ribbon during the opening of the UFLAC/LAFD Center for Health & Wellness, the first center in the state for behavioral health for firefighters and their families at Old LAFD Fire Station 7 in Arleta on Monday, September 28, 2020. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

• UFLAC/LAFD Center for Health & Wellness, a place for behavioral health for firefighters and their families at Old LAFD Fire Station 7 in Arleta opens on Monday, September 28, 2020. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

• A therapy room at UFLAC/LAFD Center for Health & Wellness, a place for behavioral health for firefighters and their families at Old LAFD Fire Station 7 in Arleta on Monday, September 28, 2020. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

• President Nury Martinez tours the new UFLAC/LAFD Center for Health & Wellness, a place for behavioral health for firefighters and their families at Old LAFD Fire Station 7 in Arleta on Monday, September 28, 2020. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

LAFD Chief Ralph Terrazas said he realized when he became chief that he had to do more for behavioral health in the department. “Last year, across the country, more firefighters were lost due to suicide than line-of-duty deaths. Think about that,” he said during the opening. “That’s huge.”

Carol Tucker attended the center’s opening to talk about her personal recovery. Her firefighter husband of 37 years committed suicide last year after a stroke at age 59, she said. They were high school sweethearts and raised two girls.

After two days in the hospital, a doctor told him his health would not allow him to be a firefighter again, Tucker said. “This is what I am,” he said in response. Weeks later, he took his own life.

“It’s been hell,” Tucker said. “I looked forward to taking care of him.”

After wiping away tears, she  stood next to many of the people who made the center possible while Council President Nury Martinez cut the red ribbon to officially open the new center.

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