The following story includes references to suicide. If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Cobey Taylor is a firefighter in Peninsula Township in Grand Traverse County. He’s been doing this work for 22 years.
Taylor is also president of the Northwestern Michigan Peer Network, a mental health support group with resources for people working in public safety.
"It's tragic," he said. "It's law enforcement, fire, EMS."
Taylor said it's unusual to see that number of losses in such a short time frame. And for him, it's a personal issue. He shared his own struggles with mental health after a fellow firefighter committed suicide in 2017.
"And that broke me. That same year is when I started full time fire and EMS," Taylor said. "And in my first year, we had six suicides in the Kingsley area. Lot of listeners might remember, that all the high schoolers and stuff we had back to back. I went on those (calls) and that really started to affect me."
Taylor said his behavior became reckless.
"Abusing drinking, cheating, all the stuff, like just not caring," he said. "Until one night, I mentally just had enough. I was in my car on a dark night, it was raining, and had a gun in my mouth. I don't remember much, until the wife was knocking on the window. It kind of woke me up from there, started to get help after that, started to see a therapist with her. And that opened up a bigger avenue and really helped me see that we need professional help when you're at that level."
Taylor started the Northwest Michigan Peer Network in 2020 to get more resources to first responders experiencing their own struggles.
It includes grant funding for mental health, free education, and debriefings with clinicians and chaplains. All of it is confidential.
Taylor said there is still stigma around mental health in the public safety community, but hopes his story and advocacy can help others heal.
"So if you're struggling and you think you're alone, you're not alone. There are others struggling," Taylor said. "By you coming out with it, owning up to it, and getting help, you could help your fellow brother or sister that's struggling, and that's the biggest thing I want to preach."
Listen to the full conversation at the top of the page.
For more resources, first responders can contact Front Line Strong on its website or call 1-833-34-STRONG.
