COVINGTON, Ky. – When people hear the term post traumatic stress disorder, there’s a good chance the first thing that comes to mind is military veterans. But PTSD affects a lot of the people who keep others safe, and society functioning.

What You Need To Know

  •  Firefighters and other public safety professions face post traumatic stress disorder

  • A bill sponsored by Rep. Kim Banta (R-Ft. Mitchell) adds language to the existing House Bill 373, enabling the treatment of post-traumatic stress

  • The bill would also provide reimbursement for mental health treatment through the Firefighters Foundation Program Fund

  • The bill passed the House Local Government Committee on Wednesday

A Kentucky bill could provide some relief to some of the stress firefighters deal with constantly.

“We’re starting to realize that stress can be also visible down here, just in day-to-day life,” said Captain Patrick Averbeck of the Covington Fire Department. “I think that anything that we could have towards mental health in our industry is going to benefit the people that are working in this type of field.”

Averbeck has seen a lot during his many years as a paramedic with the department. Many of those images are burned into his mind. Extensive training has helped him handle those situations, but there have been times, he said, when nothing could’ve prepared him.

“I’ve delivered two kids in the field. There’s a whole team of doctors and nurses when you go to the hospital to handle labor and delivery. And next thing you know, we’re in the ambulance and we’re trying to handle it with two people,” Averbeck said. The stress about that on myself is a lot. And not something that I care to keep repeating.”

A bill sponsored by Rep. Kim Banta (R-Ft. Mitchell) adds language to the existing House Bill 373, enabling the treatment of post-traumatic stress. Averbeck said the addition to the bill clears up what the benefits are and who they apply to.

The bill would also provide reimbursement for mental health treatment through the Firefighters Foundation Program Fund.

Being a firefighter is an “interesting job,” Averbeck said. A lot of their time is spent hanging around the fire station. 

“But at the drop of a hat, you go from zero to 100 miles per hour of being able to gear yourself up to handle the next emergency,” he said. “When you have these types of events, you can just feel lost, and you feel like you’re the only one in that spot. And the truth of the matter is you’re probably not.”

Averbeck said the goal of the Covington Fire Department is to ensure people have access to the resources they need, and that they know where to look.

The bill passed the House Local Government Committee on Wednesday.

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