Citation

Herzog J, O'Dare K, King E, Rotunda R, Dillard D. Traumatology 2022; 29(3): 383-388.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Green Cross Academy of Traumatology, Publisher APA Journals)

DOI

10.1037/trm0000413

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Firefighters are exposed to a variety of potentially traumatic incidents in their work (Sattler et al., 2014). High levels of trauma exposure put firefighters at risk for mental disorders and symptoms. Using a survey designed to assess the mental health needs of firefighters from a hurricane disaster zone, the authors examined the prevalence of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, alcohol misuse, and suicide. The authors found that the firefighters in the sample reported moderate-to-high levels of mental health symptoms. Moreover, we found that job-related exposure to natural disaster plays a statistically significant role in predicting posttraumatic stress disorder, which provides further evidence of increased risk for mental health symptoms among first responders. More research is necessary to determine the types of events that contribute significantly to negative mental health responses in firefighters. © 2022 American Psychological Association

Language: en

Keywords

trauma; PTSD; suicidal ideation; natural disaster; firefighters