Dena Ali returns: Mental health starts with leadership
From Better Every Shift by FireRescue1
May 7, 2026 · 48 min · Episode 305
About this episode
Battalion Chief Dena Ali discusses the importance of leadership in firefighter mental health and shares insights on building healthier crews.
“We have to rethink it.” That’s the challenge Battalion Chief Dena Ali brings to our latest conversation on firefighter mental health, not because the fire service hasn’t made significant strides but because too many firefighters are still struggling in silence. In her return to Better Every Shift, Ali explains why leadership, sleep and psychological safety are deeply tied to firefighter wellness, and how peer support programs tap into the “magic” of the brotherhood and sisterhood. Ali also shares the leadership mistakes she’s learned from herself, including finding balance between empathy and boundaries. There’s plenty here for chiefs, company officers and firefighters looking for practical ways to build healthier crews — starting with habits that don’t require a budget or a new policy to implement. Register: FRCE Mental Wellness Symposium Read: “Hope out of darkness: A guide to first responder mental wellness” Enjoying the show? Email editor@firerescue1.com to share feedback.
People in this episode
Host: FireRescue1
Guest: Dena Ali
Topics covered
- firefighter mental health
- leadership
- psychological safety
- peer support
- wellness
- empathy
- boundaries
Keywords
- firefighter wellness
- mental health
- leadership mistakes
- peer support programs
- psychological safety
- empathy
- boundaries
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: FireRescue1
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