GITNUXREPORT 2025

Firefighter Mental Health Statistics

Majority of firefighters face mental health issues, stigma prevents treatment.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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The rate of divorce among firefighters is higher than the national average, partly due to mental health struggles.

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A significant portion of firefighters report feeling isolated, which worsens mental health outcomes.

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Severe mental health issues are linked to increased risk of line-of-duty injuries.

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Firefighters with mental health issues are more likely to experience sleep disturbances.

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Nearly 60% of firefighters report that mental health challenges have impacted their personal relationships.

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Peer support programs significantly decrease the stigma surrounding mental health in fire departments.

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The use of mindfulness-based stress reduction programs in fire departments has shown to decrease PTSD symptoms by 20%.

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Personal resilience training programs have been shown to improve mental health outcomes for fire crews.

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Firefighter programs that include peer support, counseling, and resilience training can reduce mental health stigma.

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In recent surveys, over 70% of firefighters expressed interest in mental health and resilience training.

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Firefighter peer support programs have been linked to a 25% reduction in mental health-related sick days.

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Approximately 45% of firefighters experience symptoms of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD at some point in their careers.

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Firefighters are four times more likely to develop PTSD compared to the general population.

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The prevalence of depression among firefighters is estimated to be around 29%.

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Firefighters are 2.7 times more likely to experience burnout than other emergency responders.

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About 50% of firefighters report feelings of emotional exhaustion.

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Nearly 35% of firefighters experience symptoms of alcohol misuse, which correlates with mental health issues.

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PTSD symptoms in firefighters can persist for years after traumatic incidents.

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Firefighters are twice as likely to be diagnosed with depressive disorders compared to the general public.

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Firefighters who experience traumatic events are at a 3.8 times higher risk of developing PTSD.

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Female firefighters are more likely to report mental health struggles than their male counterparts.

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Mental health issues contribute to approximately 70% of firefighter deaths, including suicide and substance abuse.

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PTSD prevalence among firefighters can be as high as 30% in some studies.

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Firefighter mental health disorders are often underdiagnosed due to stigma and lack of awareness.

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40% of firefighters report that mental health issues affect their job performance.

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Approximately 30% of firefighters report experiencing flashbacks after traumatic calls.

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Depression among firefighters increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

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A significant minority of firefighters report using substances like drugs or alcohol to cope with stress.

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Emergency call volume correlates with increased mental health issues among firefighters during high-stress periods.

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Firefighters with higher levels of social support exhibit lower rates of PTSD and depression.

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The mental health needs of firefighters are often overlooked due to focus on physical injuries.

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Approximately 40% of firefighters report having experienced work-related trauma in the past year.

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The average firefighter experiences 3-5 traumatic events per year.

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Mental health issues in fire service are associated with increased absenteeism.

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The rate of substance abuse in firefighters is approximately 15-20%.

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Firefighters working in urban areas report higher levels of stress and mental health issues than those in rural settings.

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Approximately 33% of firefighters do not seek mental health treatment due to stigma.

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60% of firefighters report that mental health stigma prevents them from seeking help.

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Only about 25% of firefighters receive psychological support after traumatic incidents.

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Firefighters often delay seeking mental health treatment for an average of 6 years after initial symptoms.

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The availability of mental health services in fire departments remains limited in many regions.

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The stigma around mental health can prevent up to 70% of at-risk firefighters from seeking help.

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Firefighters with mental health issues are more likely to seek out substance use as a coping mechanism.

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The implementation of mental health wellness programs increased firefighters’ willingness to seek help by 30%.

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Nearly 1 in 3 firefighters reports suicidal thoughts during their career.

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Firefighters with PTSD are 5.8 times more likely to develop suicidal ideation.

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The incidence of suicidal ideation among firefighters is estimated to be 20-30%.

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Around 50% of firefighters report sometime contemplating suicide.

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Approximately 60% of firefighter suicides involve untreated mental health conditions.

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The suicide rate among firefighters is estimated to be 65 per 100,000 annually, higher than the general population.

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Key Highlights

Approximately 45% of firefighters experience symptoms of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD at some point in their careers.
Firefighters are four times more likely to develop PTSD compared to the general population.
Nearly 1 in 3 firefighters reports suicidal thoughts during their career.
The prevalence of depression among firefighters is estimated to be around 29%.
Firefighters with PTSD are 5.8 times more likely to develop suicidal ideation.
Approximately 33% of firefighters do not seek mental health treatment due to stigma.
Firefighters are 2.7 times more likely to experience burnout than other emergency responders.
About 50% of firefighters report feelings of emotional exhaustion.
The rate of divorce among firefighters is higher than the national average, partly due to mental health struggles.
Nearly 35% of firefighters experience symptoms of alcohol misuse, which correlates with mental health issues.
PTSD symptoms in firefighters can persist for years after traumatic incidents.
Firefighters are twice as likely to be diagnosed with depressive disorders compared to the general public.
60% of firefighters report that mental health stigma prevents them from seeking help.

Firefighting may save lives, but behind the badge lies a perilous mental health epidemic—with nearly half of firefighters experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, or PTSD, and many battling stigma and silence in the face of invisible wounds.

Impact of Mental Health on Personal Life

The rate of divorce among firefighters is higher than the national average, partly due to mental health struggles.
A significant portion of firefighters report feeling isolated, which worsens mental health outcomes.
Severe mental health issues are linked to increased risk of line-of-duty injuries.
Firefighters with mental health issues are more likely to experience sleep disturbances.
Nearly 60% of firefighters report that mental health challenges have impacted their personal relationships.

Impact of Mental Health on Personal Life Interpretation

Firefighters’ mental health struggles not only threaten their personal lives and well-being but also ignite a dangerously heightened risk of injury on the job, highlighting that when mental health is on fire, everyone gets burned.

Interventions, Programs, and Prevention Strategies

Peer support programs significantly decrease the stigma surrounding mental health in fire departments.
The use of mindfulness-based stress reduction programs in fire departments has shown to decrease PTSD symptoms by 20%.
Personal resilience training programs have been shown to improve mental health outcomes for fire crews.
Firefighter programs that include peer support, counseling, and resilience training can reduce mental health stigma.
In recent surveys, over 70% of firefighters expressed interest in mental health and resilience training.
Firefighter peer support programs have been linked to a 25% reduction in mental health-related sick days.

Interventions, Programs, and Prevention Strategies Interpretation

These compelling statistics underscore that when fire departments prioritize peer support, mindfulness, and resilience training, they not only extinguish stigma and PTSD symptoms but also fuel a healthier, more resilient firefighting force, proving that addressing mental health is just as crucial as battling blazes.

Mental Health Prevalence and Disorders

Approximately 45% of firefighters experience symptoms of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD at some point in their careers.
Firefighters are four times more likely to develop PTSD compared to the general population.
The prevalence of depression among firefighters is estimated to be around 29%.
Firefighters are 2.7 times more likely to experience burnout than other emergency responders.
About 50% of firefighters report feelings of emotional exhaustion.
Nearly 35% of firefighters experience symptoms of alcohol misuse, which correlates with mental health issues.
PTSD symptoms in firefighters can persist for years after traumatic incidents.
Firefighters are twice as likely to be diagnosed with depressive disorders compared to the general public.
Firefighters who experience traumatic events are at a 3.8 times higher risk of developing PTSD.
Female firefighters are more likely to report mental health struggles than their male counterparts.
Mental health issues contribute to approximately 70% of firefighter deaths, including suicide and substance abuse.
PTSD prevalence among firefighters can be as high as 30% in some studies.
Firefighter mental health disorders are often underdiagnosed due to stigma and lack of awareness.
40% of firefighters report that mental health issues affect their job performance.
Approximately 30% of firefighters report experiencing flashbacks after traumatic calls.
Depression among firefighters increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
A significant minority of firefighters report using substances like drugs or alcohol to cope with stress.
Emergency call volume correlates with increased mental health issues among firefighters during high-stress periods.
Firefighters with higher levels of social support exhibit lower rates of PTSD and depression.
The mental health needs of firefighters are often overlooked due to focus on physical injuries.
Approximately 40% of firefighters report having experienced work-related trauma in the past year.
The average firefighter experiences 3-5 traumatic events per year.
Mental health issues in fire service are associated with increased absenteeism.
The rate of substance abuse in firefighters is approximately 15-20%.
Firefighters working in urban areas report higher levels of stress and mental health issues than those in rural settings.

Mental Health Prevalence and Disorders Interpretation

With nearly half of firefighters grappling with mental health conditions—highlighted by a PTSD risk four times that of the general public—their silent struggle underscores the urgent need to put mental health on the same fireline as physical safety.

Seeking Help and Support Services

Approximately 33% of firefighters do not seek mental health treatment due to stigma.
60% of firefighters report that mental health stigma prevents them from seeking help.
Only about 25% of firefighters receive psychological support after traumatic incidents.
Firefighters often delay seeking mental health treatment for an average of 6 years after initial symptoms.
The availability of mental health services in fire departments remains limited in many regions.
The stigma around mental health can prevent up to 70% of at-risk firefighters from seeking help.
Firefighters with mental health issues are more likely to seek out substance use as a coping mechanism.
The implementation of mental health wellness programs increased firefighters’ willingness to seek help by 30%.

Seeking Help and Support Services Interpretation

Despite growing awareness and wellness initiatives that boost help-seeking by 30%, a staggering 70% of at-risk firefighters remain trapped in silence, often enduring six years of suffering before finally seeking support—highlighting that until we extinguish the stigma, many will continue to fight their battles alone.

Suicide and Suicidal Ideation

Nearly 1 in 3 firefighters reports suicidal thoughts during their career.
Firefighters with PTSD are 5.8 times more likely to develop suicidal ideation.
The incidence of suicidal ideation among firefighters is estimated to be 20-30%.
Around 50% of firefighters report sometime contemplating suicide.
Approximately 60% of firefighter suicides involve untreated mental health conditions.
The suicide rate among firefighters is estimated to be 65 per 100,000 annually, higher than the general population.

Suicide and Suicidal Ideation Interpretation

These staggering statistics reveal that while firefighters heroically face infernos and crises, a silent mental health epidemic flames beneath their valor, underscoring the urgent need for proactive support and unwavering mental health care.