Canadian Career Firefighters' Mental Health Impacts and Priorities.

ABSTRACT: Firefighters' perceptions of mental health can inform management. This qualitative study explored Canadian career firefighters' experiences, needs, and research priorities with respect to mental health. Thirty-nine career firefighters (33 men, 6 women) of different ranks and geographic locales were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and qualitatively analyzed using thematic analysis within an interpretive description approach. Firefighters reported that critical incidents and chronic job stressors contributed to mental health symptoms that led to burnout, compassion fatigue, and mental and physical injury. They were concerned with family impacts, like lack of full openness, reduced financial stability, and risk of divorce; and wo

SUBMITTER: MacDermid JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8656638 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature