ROCHESTER, Minn. — A new law went into effect on Jan. 1 that will provide legal protections to first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorders.
KIMT 3 reported the new law states that any first responder diagnosed with PTSD will be assumed to have contracted the diagnosis due to their occupation, and will be eligible for worker’s compensation.
“It’s extremely important to keep up with the times, and we’re giving support to people who need it now in the places we need it,” Rochester Fire Department Capt. Caleb Feine said.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more than 50 percent of firefighter deaths are due to stress and exhaustion, with 30 percent of firefighters having documented depression.
“We see some things sometimes, they’re not easy to handle,” Feine said. “And, everybody handles those things differently, so, you know, it’s important to take that we take care of our own in that aspect.”