First responders are there to help when someone is in need, but they sometimes forget to ask for help themselves.
Over time, or sometimes all at once, dealing with life and death situations can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder.
But there are programs available to help.
Firefighter Matt Davis at Fire Station 14 still chokes up when talking about his worst day on the job.
"We watched a family be told that their little girl wasn't coming back."
It was about nine years ago when his crew got a call for a baby girl without vital signs. They couldn't save her.
"It wasn't until somebody mentioned, 'It must be tough for you having a daughter the same age.' And at that point I struggled, I broke down and it was because of the crew that I was with - they made the call to have our critical incident stress team come out - even though I felt that I was fine," he says.
Davis is part of an effort within the fire department to take away the stigma around job-related stress.
The latest critical incident was a violent crash on the campus of Western University on Sunday that claimed the life of a young man.
Davis says it could be any such incident that triggers emotion.
Firefighters often rush to a scene not really knowing what to expect, but it's life and death, every day - a heavy burden.
Wes Kirk is part of the Critical Incident Management Team, a firefighter-led initiative that sends peers and stress councillor in after traumatic events to offer support and a chance to talk.
He says, "It was, 'Suck it up. Keep it to yourselves. This is what we're paid to do. And move on.'"
Th initiative is part of an effort to prevent post-traumatic stress disorder.
"I have seen where there's increased use of drugs or alcohol, some breakdowns in marriages and some work performances that become affected. So it does have an effect and it's generally a cumulative effect."
But there is hope that more people speaking out will help, Davis says.
"I share my experiences because I hope that it might help other responders feel more comfortable in changing the stigma that they're not alone in suffering."
