Takeaways from previous studies

• Evidence shows that rates of depression among fire and EMS personnel are higher than in the general population.
• Firefighters have higher rates of alcohol use and binge drinking compared to the general population. There is a possible connection between risky drinking behaviors and PTSD.
• Firefighters experience “secondary trauma” or “compassion fatigue” from repeated exposure to trauma. They may not be diagnosed with PTSD, but clearly suffer from symptoms such as sleep disorders, avoidance behaviors, and feelings of helplessness that are associated with PTSD.

Takeaways from this study

Firefighting and mental health: experiences of repeated exposure to trauma

• It is more common for firefighters to experience a negative mental health impact from a series of traumatic events rather than from one single event.
• Symptoms of RET for most firefighters include desensitization, irritability, cynicism and intrusive flashbacks.
• Many firefighters appear to effectively manage their emotional response to trauma. Future research should explore their protective coping methods and resiliency.

The research article is available through our library by contacting netclrc@fema.dhs.gov. Interested readers may be able to access the article through their local library or through the publisher’s website.

¹ Jahnke, S. A., Poston, W. S., Haddock, C. K., & Murphy, B. (2016). Firefighting and mental health: Experiences of repeated exposure to trauma. Work, 53(4), 737-744. doi:10.3233/wor-162255