New Bill Targets Firefighters With PTSD

A new bill introduced to the General Assembly on Monday could reduce stigma and provide support for firefighters who have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Republican lawmakers Senator Paul Bailey of Sparta and Representative Johnny Garrett of Goodlettsville filed the James ‘Dustin’ Samples Act on Monday. The bill is named in honor of Captain Samples of the Cleveland Fire Department, who tragically committed suicide in 2020 after a years-long struggle with PTSD. If it is passed, the bill will make the diagnosis of PTSD for a firefighter presumed to be an injury suffered in the course of employment if certain criteria is met. All of the Senate and a majority of the House have signed on as cosponsors to this bill…which signals it has a very good chance of passing. Representative Garrett says being a firefighter can take an enormous toll on a person’s mental health which can be just as detrimental as any physical injury. The proposed legislation will improve access to effective treatment but also break down barriers where asking for help has not always been easy.