Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Amsterdam Fire Department Hendrik Station Marnixstraat
The "Hendrik" station of the Amsterdam Fire Department, located on Marnixstraat. Jan. 1, 2009 - Credit: Sterilgutassistentin / Wikimedia Commons - License: CC-BY-SA
Health
bullying
mental health
Amsterdam fire department
suicide
ARQ National Psychotrauma Center
public prosecutor
Femke Halsema
Friday, 1 October 2021 - 11:20
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Bullying not the main cause of firefighter's suicide: A'dam mayor

Those in the Netherlands in life threatening danger should immediately dial 112 for emergency services. Anyone suffering from depression or contemplating suicide may call 113 Zelfmoordpreventie at any time by dialing either 113 or 0800-0113. Counselors at De Luisterlijn may also be reached at 088-0767000, or volunteers may be reached at one of their local numbers. A list of suicide crisis hotlines outside the Netherlands is available on Wikipedia.

Investigation showed that bullying was not the main reason that an Amsterdam firefighter took his own life at the end of 2019, Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema said in a letter to the city council, AT5 reports.

Last week, NRC spoke to the firefighter's widow. She said that her husband took his own life after a period of structural harassment at the fire department.

In a written response to that article, Halsema said that two investigations were done into the firefighter's death. One by the Public Prosecution Service found that no punishable offenses were committed. And one by ARQ National Psychotrauma Center concluded that bullying was not the main reason for the man taking his own life.

"In the report, in addition to bullying, ARQ mentioned a large number of other factors such as youth, private life, psychological condition and type of work. These factors were briefly mentioned in the NRC article. Due to respect for the firefighter's privacy, I will not go into these in more detail," Halsema said in her letter to the city council.

Halsema acknowledged that the firefighter's widow should have been involved in the ARQ investigation. "Her involvement would have supplemented the report. She was also not informed about the investigation. In June 2020, the widow held the fire department liable for the firefighter's death. This resulted in the contact being looked at too much from a legal perspective and too little from a human perspective," the Amsterdam mayor said.

Halsema instructed the fire department to set up a mediator who can help answer any questions the firefighter's family still have.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • AZ-Utrecht ends in an incredible 5-5 scoreline; PSV back to winning ways
  • One person found dead after major fire in business premises in Schellinkhout
  • Ajax pick up their first win since October in Heitinga’s debut
  • Philips restructuring: Massive layoffs and recall of sleep apnea devices
  • Police officer injured after being dragged more than 300 meters by car
  • Extinction Rebellion protest: 768 arrests made and 725 activists released

Top stories

  • Dutch royal family under fire for “caricature insensitivity”
  • Prime Minister Mark Rutte will speak at Holocaust commemoration
  • A12 open again after Extinction Rebellion protest, more than 500 people arrested
  • Police intervenes Extinction Rebellion protest on A12; Dozens of people arrested
  • Rutte lashes out at left wing parties in election campaign interview
  • Netherlands and the US agree on export restriction of ASML chip machines

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content