CA ACR192

Proclaims the week of May 23 through May 27 as Firefighter Mental Health Awareness Week in California.

Acknowledges that firefighting is one of the most stressful professions, with firefighters experiencing repeated trauma exposure and facing higher rates of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicide than the general population.

Notes that 90 firefighters and EMTs died by suicide in 2021 and 126 in 2020, and that firefighters are 10 times more likely to contemplate or attempt suicide than the general public.

Urges California firefighters to use this week for peer discussions about job impacts, available resources, and destigmatizing behavioral health struggles.

Directs the Chief Clerk of the Assembly to distribute copies of the resolution to appropriate recipients.