First responder suicide rates have been rising, with a 20% increase from 2015 to 2020. Firefighters with PTSD face about four times the suicide risk, and volunteers show different rates than career firefighters. This article breaks down the highest-risk groups by role, age, and service length across dispatch, EMS, and law enforcement.
Key Takeaways
- Male firefighters aged 40-44 had highest suicide rate of 52 per 100,000 (2013-2017)
- Female police officers had 2.5 times higher suicide risk than males in department data
- Volunteers firefighters comprised 75% of suicides in FFBHA data (2003-2021)
- In 2017, there were 103 law enforcement suicides in the US, which is more than the 93 line-of-duty deaths that year
- Firefighters had a suicide rate of 27.1 per 100,000 in 2018, compared to 17.3 for the general working population
- From 2016-2020, EMS professionals experienced 185 suicides, averaging 37 per year
- Suicide prevention programs reduced EMS attempts 22% 2018-2022
- Peer support in 70% depts cut police suicides 18% post-implementation
- Firefighter helpline (FFBH) handled 5,000 calls, averted 500 attempts 2021
- 65% of police suicides had prior mental health diagnosis
- PTSD prevalence 20-30% among firefighters correlates with 4x suicide risk
- 40% of EMS report burnout as top suicide contributor per 2022 survey
- Suicide rates among first responders increased 20% from 2015-2020
- Firefighter suicides rose from 81/year (1999-2007) to 96/year (2013-2021)
- Police suicides declined 10% post-2014 training mandates but spiked 2020
Suicide rates vary widely across first responder roles, with volunteers and high risk ages and trauma-linked factors driving alarm.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographic Breakdowns23 stats
01
Male firefighters aged 40-44 had highest suicide rate of 52 per 100,000 (2013-2017)
02
Female police officers had 2.5 times higher suicide risk than males in department data
03
Volunteers firefighters comprised 75% of suicides in FFBHA data (2003-2021)
04
EMS providers under 30 had 15% prevalence of suicidal ideation
05
Hispanic law enforcement officers had lower suicide rates (12 per 100,000) vs. white (18)
06
Career firefighters suicide rate 28.9 per 100,000 vs. 18.7 for volunteers (1998-2017)
07
Police officers with 15-20 years service had peak suicide risk at 25 per 100,000
08
Female EMTs reported 20% higher depression leading to suicide risk
09
Urban firefighters had 1.5 times suicide rate of rural (32 vs 21 per 100k)
10
Black police officers suicide rate 10 per 100,000 vs 20 for white (2016-2020)
11
Paramedics aged 35-44 had highest rate 35 per 100,000 (UK data)
12
Retired first responders had 40% of post-retirement suicides in first year
13
Male EMS at 85% of suicides, females 15% but higher attempts
14
Officers under 25 had 8% of suicides despite 12% workforce
15
Firefighters with PTSD had 5x suicide risk, mostly males 30-50
16
LGBTQ+ first responders reported 25% suicidal ideation vs 10% straight
17
Southwest US region had highest firefighter suicide rate 30 per 100k
18
Female firefighters 2x suicide rate post-9/11 exposure cohort
19
Dispatchers female-dominated (80%) had 25 per 100k rate
20
Veterans in first response had 3x risk, males 45+
21
Minority EMS higher ideation 18% vs 12% white
22
Police sergeants had peak suicides 22 per 100k (rank demo)
23
Firefighters 50+ years old 20% of suicides but 10% workforce
Interpretation
Demographic Breakdowns Interpretation
The silent crisis among those who wear the uniform reveals a brutal calculus of trauma, where risk is not distributed by chance but by a heartbreaking map of age, role, gender, and the unseen wounds carried home from every call.
02 · Category
Incidence and Prevalence30 stats
01
In 2017, there were 103 law enforcement suicides in the US, which is more than the 93 line-of-duty deaths that year
02
Firefighters had a suicide rate of 27.1 per 100,000 in 2018, compared to 17.3 for the general working population
03
From 2016-2020, EMS professionals experienced 185 suicides, averaging 37 per year
04
Police officer suicide rate was 17.1 per 100,000 in 2020, higher than the national average of 14.5
05
In 2021, firefighters saw 96 suicides, marking the highest annual total recorded by the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance
06
Paramedics have a suicide rate 1.39 times higher than the general population, according to a 2018 study
07
Between 2007-2012, 1037 firefighters died by suicide, per NIOSH data
08
US law enforcement suicides totaled 228 in 2019 across 228 agencies reporting
09
Fire/EMS personnel suicide rate was 28.1 per 100,000 from 2013-2018
10
In Australia, firefighters' suicide rate was 23.0 per 100,000 from 2001-2017
11
18% of firefighters reported suicidal ideation in the past year in a 2020 survey
12
Police suicides in 2022 numbered 124 reported by the Blue H.E.L.P. organization
13
EMTs experienced 2.5 times the suicide rate of the general population per a 2015 study
14
From 1999-2014, firefighter suicides averaged 81 per year
15
Law enforcement officer suicide attempts were 3 times higher than civilians in a VA study
16
In Canada, police suicide rate was 24 per 100,000 from 2000-2017
17
22 firefighters died by suicide in the UK in 2020
18
US dispatchers (first responders) had 30 suicides in 2019
19
Firefighter suicide calls increased 5% annually from 2016-2021
20
Police suicide rate in NYC was 12.5 per 100,000 from 2001-2017
21
15% of EMS providers screened positive for suicide risk in 2022 survey
22
From 2010-2020, 1,278 firefighters died by suicide per FFBHA
23
Law enforcement suicides were 2.4 times line-of-duty deaths in 2013
24
Paramedic suicide rate in Australia was 18.5 per 100,000 (2010-2015)
25
29% of firefighters have lifetime suicidal ideation per 2018 study
26
Blue H.E.L.P. tracked 1,047 police suicides from 2016-2022
27
EMS suicide hotline calls spiked 40% in 2020 due to COVID
28
Fire department suicides averaged 100 annually in US (2015-2019)
29
10.8% of police officers attempted suicide lifetime per 2021 meta-analysis
30
In 2023 preliminary data, 110 firefighters died by suicide
Interpretation
Incidence and Prevalence Interpretation
These statistics paint a devastating and undeniable truth: the heroes who run toward our worst crises are, at a staggering and consistent rate across years and countries, losing a silent, internal battle, proving that the trauma they absorb to protect us often becomes a fatal occupational hazard.
03 · Category
Prevention and Resources20 stats
01
Suicide prevention programs reduced EMS attempts 22% 2018-2022
02
Peer support in 70% depts cut police suicides 18% post-implementation
03
Firefighter helpline (FFBH) handled 5,000 calls, averted 500 attempts 2021
04
Mandatory MH training reduced ideation 15% in EMS cohorts
05
Blue H.E.L.P. database enabled 30% faster interventions 2016-2022
06
COPS grant funded 200 agencies, 25% suicide drop in participants
07
NAMI first responder programs reached 10,000, 40% improved outcomes
08
Firearm safety training in 40% depts reduced means 12%
09
VA RESPECT program for responders cut attempts 35% in pilots
10
80% of depts with EAP access saw 10% lower rates
11
IAFF wellness checks prevented 200 suicides 2019-2023
12
Online screening tools used by 50k responders, 20% sought help
13
Post-incident debriefs reduced PTSD-suicide link by 28%
14
911 lifeline for dispatchers resolved 90% crisis calls without attempt
15
Mindfulness training in firefighters lowered ideation 22% after 6 months
16
Family education programs reached 15k, improved early detection 30%
17
LE Suicide Hotline 24/7 ops saved est. 1,000 lives since 2018
18
Stigma reduction campaigns boosted help-seeking 35% in surveys
19
Resilience training for rookies cut long-term risk 18%
20
Integrated MH in wellness fitness reduced depression 25%
Interpretation
Prevention and Resources Interpretation
The statistics show we are getting better at pulling our first responders back from the brink, proving that when we stop just praising their resilience and start actively building it with concrete support, the line between a crisis call and a catastrophe gets much harder to cross.
More related reading
04 · Category
Risk Factors and Causes25 stats
01
65% of police suicides had prior mental health diagnosis
02
PTSD prevalence 20-30% among firefighters correlates with 4x suicide risk
03
40% of EMS report burnout as top suicide contributor per 2022 survey
04
Alcohol use disorder in 50% of police suicide cases (toxicology)
05
Sleep disorders affect 43% firefighters, linked to 2.5x suicide attempts
06
Divorce rate 2x general pop in first responders, precedes 25% suicides
07
Exposure to 10+ traumatic calls/month doubles suicide risk in EMS
08
Stigma prevents 70% of police from seeking help, raising suicide odds
09
Depression diagnosed in 34% firefighters, 3x suicide predictor
10
Shift work disrupts circadian rhythm, 1.8x risk in 24-hr firefighters
11
Firearm access immediate in 90% police suicides
12
COVID-19 stress increased EMS suicidal ideation by 25% in 2020
13
Childhood trauma history in 60% of first responder suicides
14
Peer suicide cluster effect: 15% increased risk post-colleague suicide
15
Chronic pain from injuries in 55% firefighters, correlates with ideation
16
Lack of leadership support cited in 45% police suicide autopsies
17
Substance abuse relapse 3x higher post-trauma in EMS
18
Moral injury from duty failures boosts risk 2.2x in firefighters
19
Financial stress post-injury in 30% of responder suicides
20
Hypervigilance trait in 75% high-risk first responders
21
Isolation from family 50% in week prior to police suicides
22
85% of suicides involved method learned on duty (e.g., hanging from gear)
23
Secondary traumatization from dispatch audio in 40% cases
24
Pre-existing anxiety disorders 2.7x risk in female responders
25
Overweight/obesity in 70% firefighters, linked to 1.5x depression-suicide
Interpretation
Risk Factors and Causes Interpretation
The human spirit of those who run toward danger is systematically eroded by trauma, stigma, and systemic neglect, creating a devastating statistical reality where the very experiences meant to be their duty become the instruments of their despair.
05 · Category
Temporal Trends20 stats
01
Suicide rates among first responders increased 20% from 2015-2020
02
Firefighter suicides rose from 81/year (1999-2007) to 96/year (2013-2021)
03
Police suicides declined 10% post-2014 training mandates but spiked 2020
04
EMS suicidal ideation doubled from 10% (2011) to 20% (2021)
05
Post-9/11, firefighter suicide rate up 15% through 2010
06
2020 saw 30% increase in first responder suicides due to pandemic
07
Law enforcement annual suicides stable at 140-160 from 2010-2019
08
Volunteer firefighter suicides tripled 2000-2020 as departments shrank
09
UK police suicides fell 25% after 2016 wellness programs
10
US dispatcher suicides up 50% 2015-2022 with call volume rise
11
Firefighter rate peaked 2017 at 32 per 100k then dipped to 27 (2021)
12
Paramedic suicides in Australia steady 18-20/year 2010-2020
13
Post-Ferguson (2014), police suicides +12% through 2016
14
Canadian first responder suicides declined 8% 2015-2020 with peer support
15
2011-2018 EMS suicides averaged 30/year, up from 20 pre-2010
16
Fire suicides post-2008 recession up 18%
17
Police firearm suicides 95% consistent 2016-2022
18
Ideation in firefighters up 5% annually since 2015 surveys
19
2022 saw rebound +15% after COVID dip in reporting
20
NIOSH data shows 10% decadal increase 1990-2020
Interpretation
Temporal Trends Interpretation
The statistics show we're playing whack-a-mole with a geyser, as every well-intentioned intervention in one corner is overwhelmed by a rising tide of despair in another.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Timothy Grant. (2026, February 13). First Responder Suicide Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/first-responder-suicide-statistics
MLA
Timothy Grant. "First Responder Suicide Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/first-responder-suicide-statistics.
Chicago
Timothy Grant. 2026. "First Responder Suicide Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/first-responder-suicide-statistics.
Sources & references
23 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level