Charity golf outing raises money for firefighters battling mental health issues

SUSSEX, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Firefighters from all over the state are shooting for a hole in one with effort from the Kelmann Cares Foundation.

The Milwaukee Fire Department lost a firefighter last month when one of their members took their own life. As the firefighters battle this sad news, a charity golf event in Sussex on Friday, Aug. 4, aimed to raise money for firefighter's emotional health. 

The day began with bagpipes and led to the course, 18 holes of pure bliss at Ironwood.

"No one knows how to deal initially with that tragedy," said Steve Brennan, North Shore Fire Department retired battalion chief. 

Brennan said that in 2018, his cousin Mitch Lundgaard who was an Appleton firefighter, was shot dead after administering Narcan in an overdose call.

"Initially it was very tough," said Brennan. "I mean, Mitchell, he was young, in his late 30's. He had young boys."

The shock of losing a member of the team can affect fire families all over. These kinds of things, plus the stress of the everyday job, contributing to a rise in the suicide rate of firefighters. 

"We're finding that firefighters are screening positive for anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder are at two times the rate of the general population," said Michael Wos with the Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation. He also works for the Oshkosh Fire Department. 

"Nobody knows what anyone is going through at any given time and people process things differently and they're effected differently," said Fitchburg Fire Chief Joe Pulvermacher, who is also the president of the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association. 

Sixty-thousand dollars was raised by 250 golfers which will help pay for peer support training.

"We're working with the relationships with treatment facilities to get firefighters into a facility within 24 hours. Right now, in Wisconsin, most treatment centers have a six to eight waitlist," said Wos.

Departments have their own peer support, but for more of an anonymous approach, firefighters can click here.