Firefighters pushing for more state support for mental health, PTSD VIDEO: Firefighters pushing for more state support for mental health, PTSD By Lillian Donahue | May 5, 2021 at 3:42 PM EDT - Updated May 5 at 6:35 PM CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Lowcountry and statewide firefighter groups are pushing legislators to open up more funding to address PTSD and other mental illnesses in first responders. “We see things that the normal person on a daily basis doesn’t see their entire lifetime,” Charleston Firefighters Association Local 61′s Steven Azzarella said. Azzarella said the pandemic has only compounded stress and anxiety among firefighters. “It was hard on one another to have that social interaction, to be able to talk about things with one another,” Azzarella said.