Firefighters earlier in their careers and/or volunteers appear to be at elevated risk.

Abstract

Background Firefighters experience high-risk occupational hazards that may confer increased risk for suicide; however, prevalence rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among firefighters are unknown. The purpose of this study is to describe the career prevalence of suicide ideation, plans, attempts, and non-suicidal self-injury among firefighters, in addition to sociodemographic, physical health, and occupational correlates.

Methods Data were obtained from a cross-sectional convenience sample of 1027 current and retired firefighters who completed a nationwide web-based survey on mental health (mean age=38.49, SD=11.70; 91.2% male; 87.3% White). Sociodemographic, physical health, and occupational correlates were assessed via a structured questionnaire. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors were assessed using a modified version of the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview-Short Form (SITBI-SF).

Results The career prevalence estimates of suicide ideation, plans, attempts, and non-suicidal self-injury were found to be 46.8%, 19.2%, 15.5%, and 16.4%, respectively. Key factors associated with increased risk for reporting suicidal thoughts and behaviors included lower firefighter rank, fewer years of firefighter service, membership in an all-volunteer department, a history of professionally responding to a suicide attempt or death, and active duty military status.

Limitations The current study utilized a cross-sectional convenience sample of firefighters.