A new fundraising campaign has been launched to support the growing need for mental health support across the UK’s dire services community.

The fund has been set up the Fire Fighters Charity as part of its winter appeal to support its fire service members. The charity says that fire and rescue service personnel have faced ‘unprecedented pressures’ on their mental health since the start of the pandemic. Around one in five of its members now rate their mental health as poor or very poor, with two thirds saying that their mental health has worsened in the last 18 months.

The charity plans to increase the amount of support available to fire fighters amid growing demand on the NHS, which has led to longer waiting lists for mental health services.

The Fire Fighters Charity says it will use the funds to diversify its services and invest in new programmes and resources to ensure that it can meet the needs of every individual who approaches them for help.

The charity’s Chief Executive Dr Jill Tolfrey said: “We have seen our fire and rescue services push themselves like never before over the last two years to support their communities when they needed it most. But now it’s our turn to support them.

“We will ensure we’re there for all of them, whenever they may need us, and donations from our supporters this winter can help us do just that.”

Donate today at www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/winterappeal.

If you are struggling, there are always people you can talk to any time. In the UK, you can call Samaritans on 116 123 – calls are free any time, from any phone. ⁠Or you can text SHOUT to 85258.⁠

If you live in the USA, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, and you can also contact the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741).