Help For Firefighters suffering from Job-Realted Mental Health Issues
Firefighters are exposed to all kinds of tragedies while on the job , but the public rarely hears about the suffering of the men and women who daily risk their lives . And though firefighters are primarily recognized for responding to fires , they ’ re also often among the first to arrive at all kinds of disasters , witnessing the horrors of death , accidents where there were serious injuries , and destruction . As a result , rates of posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) in firefighters may be higher so than in other professions .
One study of firefighters in the United States examined the type of traumatic events they experienced , and high rates of traumatic exposure were found . For example , many had been exposed to crime victim incidents . Another study found that firefighters reported that medical emergencies and motor vehicle accidents were the most upsetting types of calls that they received . Moreover , cumulative stressors include the physical toll on the body , long working hours , work-related sleep disturbance , and an inability to tend to daily family life .
It ’ s been reported that anywhere between 7 % to 37 % of firefighters meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD .
RISK FACTORS FOR PTSD
A few studies have looked at what factors might put firefighters at greater risk of developing PTSD , which includes the following :
• Being previously in treatment for another disorder .
• Starting work as a firefighter at a young age .
• Holding a supervisory rank in the fire service .
• Being near death during a traumatic event .
• Experiencing feelings of fear and horror during a traumatic event .
• Experiencing another stressful event ( for example , loss of a loved one ) after a traumatic event .
• Holding negative beliefs about oneself ( for example , feeling as though you are inadequate or weak ).
• Feeling as though you have little control over your life .
• Feeling hostility .
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