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Preventative Care in First Responder Mental Health: Focusing on Access and Utilization via Stepped Telehealth Care

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First responders are at high risk for disorders that arise from repeat exposure to stress and trauma (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, and problematic alcohol use). Although mental health treatments are available, first responders often do not access them, anchored by barriers that include: lack of knowledge, stigma, negative experience with mental health providers, and time-based burdens. In this study, we designed an intervention to address these barriers, extending a Planned-Action framework. Step 1 involved self-report screening for four mental health risks (PTSD, depression, anxiety, and alcohol use risk), delivered to all personnel electronically, who were free to either consent and participate or opt-out. The detection of risk(s) in Step 1 led to scheduling a Step 2 telehealth appointment with a trained clinician. We report descriptive statistics for participation/attrition/utilization in Steps 1 and 2, rates of risk on four mental health variables, and rate of adherence to follow-up treatment recommendations. Step 1: In total, 53.3% of personnel [229 of 429 full-time employees (221 males; eight females; 95% White; 48% paramedic or Emergency Medical Technician; 25% captain; 19% engineer; 7% other)] initially opted-in by consenting and completing the brief remote screening survey. Among those who opted-in and completed (n = 229), 43% screened positive for one or more of the following mental health risks: PTSD (7.9%); depression (9.6%); anxiety (13.5%); alcohol use (36.7%). Step 2: A maximum of three attempts were made to schedule “at risk” individuals into Step 2 (n = 99). Among the 99 who demonstrated a need for mental health treatment (by screening positive for one or more risk), 56 (56.6%) engaged in the telehealth appointment. Of the 56 who participated in Step 2 clinical appointments, 38 were recommended for further intervention (16.6% of full-time personnel who participated). Among the 38 firefighters who were recommended to seek further mental health services, 29 were adherent/followed through (76.3% of those who received recommendations for further services). Taken together, evidence-based, culturally conscious, stepped care models delivered via the virtual/telehealth medium can promote access, utilization, and cost-effective mental health services for first responders. Implications are for informing larger, more rigorous dissemination and implementation efforts.
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ORIGINAL RESEARCH
published: 09 June 2022
doi: 10.3389/frhs.2022.848138
Frontiers in Health Services | www.frontiersin.org 1June 2022 | Volume 2 | Article 848138
Edited by:
Natalie Mota,
University of Manitoba, Canada
Reviewed by:
Rachel A. Hoopsick,
University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, United States
Masahito Fushimi,
Akita University, Japan
*Correspondence:
Andrew J. Smith
andrew.j.smith-2@dartmouth.edu
Scott A. Langenecker
s.langenecker@hsc.utah.edu
Specialty section:
This article was submitted to
Mental Health Services,
a section of the journal
Frontiers in Health Services
Received: 04 January 2022
Accepted: 31 March 2022
Published: 09 June 2022
Citation:
Wright HM, Fuessel-Hermann D,
Lee S, Ridge B, Kim JU, Konopacki K,
Hilton L, Greensides M,
Langenecker SA and Smith AJ (2022)
Preventative Care in First Responder
Mental Health: Focusing on Access
and Utilization via Stepped Telehealth
Care. Front. Health Serv. 2:848138.
doi: 10.3389/frhs.2022.848138
Preventative Care in First Responder
Mental Health: Focusing on Access
and Utilization via Stepped Telehealth
Care
Hannah M. Wright 1, Dianna Fuessel-Hermann 2, Somi Lee 1, Brook Ridge 1,
Joseph U. Kim 1,2 , Kelly Konopacki 1, Layne Hilton 3, Michael Greensides 3,
Scott A. Langenecker 1
*and Andrew J. Smith 1,4,5
*
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Huntsman Mental Health Institute, Salt Lake City, UT,
United States, 2Salt Lake City Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, United States, 3United Fire Authority,
Salt Lake City, UT, United States, 4Department of Psychiatry, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH,
United States, 5Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO, United States
First responders are at high risk for disorders that arise from repeat exposure to stress
and trauma (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, and problematic alcohol use).
Although mental health treatments are available, first responders often do not access
them, anchored by barriers that include: lack of knowledge, stigma, negative experience
with mental health providers, and time-based burdens. In this study, we designed an
intervention to address these barriers, extending a Planned-Action framework. Step 1
involved self-report screening for four mental health risks (PTSD, depression, anxiety,
and alcohol use risk), delivered to all personnel electronically, who were free to either
consent and participate or opt-out. The detection of risk(s) in Step 1 led to scheduling
a Step 2 telehealth appointment with a trained clinician. We report descriptive statistics
for participation/attrition/utilization in Steps 1 and 2, rates of risk on four mental health
variables, and rate of adherence to follow-up treatment recommendations. Step 1: In
total, 53.3% of personnel [229 of 429 full-time employees (221 males; eight females; 95%
White; 48% paramedic or Emergency Medical Technician; 25% captain; 19% engineer;
7% other)] initially opted-in by consenting and completing the brief remote screening
survey. Among those who opted-in and completed (n=229), 43% screened positive
for one or more of the following mental health risks: PTSD (7.9%); depression (9.6%);
anxiety (13.5%); alcohol use (36.7%). Step 2: A maximum of three attempts were made
to schedule “at risk” individuals into Step 2 (n=99). Among the 99 who demonstrated
a need for mental health treatment (by screening positive for one or more risk), 56
(56.6%) engaged in the telehealth appointment. Of the 56 who participated in Step 2
clinical appointments, 38 were recommended for further intervention (16.6% of full-time
personnel who participated). Among the 38 firefighters who were recommended to
seek further mental health services, 29 were adherent/followed through (76.3% of those
who received recommendations for further services). Taken together, evidence-based,
Wright et al. Preventative Care in First Responders
culturally conscious, stepped care models delivered via the virtual/telehealth medium
can promote access, utilization, and cost-effective mental health services for first
responders. Implications are for informing larger, more rigorous dissemination and
implementation efforts.
Keywords: occupational stress, utilization, preventative medicine, first responders, PTSD, depression, alcohol,
stepped care
INTRODUCTION
Serving as a firefighter involves chronic stress and trauma
exposures incurred during occupational events such as structure
fires, wildfires, traffic accidents, suicides, drug overdoses, Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome, domestic violence scenes, and disasters.
Firefighters work long hours under shift work schedule demands
and mandatory staffing, prompting deterioration of natural
coping resources [e.g., social supports, restorative sleep; (14)].
Chronic physical and psychological stress exposures, paired with
degradation of natural coping processes, leaves firefighters at
risk for physical and mental health problems [e.g., (514)]. A
recent study showed that more than 50% of firefighters may
be at risk for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and/or alcohol use
disorder (15). This is a population in need of culturally tailored,
preventative, accessible treatment resources to facilitate mental
health and wellbeing.
Evidence-based treatments are available for the common types
of mental health problems that first responders are at risk for,
including treatments for PTSD (Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive
Processing, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
and depression (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Treatment
approaches) (1621). Notwithstanding the efficacy of evidence-
based mental health treatments [e.g., see (22)], fewer than half of
first responders in need of mental health care seek treatment (23).
A recent survey of nearly 40,000 firefighters revealed that among
firefighters with a probable PTSD diagnosis, fewer than 10% had
sought treatment in the past month (24).
Reasons for not seeking mental health treatments are
undoubtedly complex. For example, emergency responder
cultures value archetypes of self-reliance, self-sufficiency, playing
heroic roles, and saving other people at risk to the self
(25). Firefighters are often unaware of the potential mental
health risks for long-term effects of persistent stress (26),
and/or lack the knowledge for where and how to access
mental health providers trained in evidence-based approaches
(27). Among firefighters who are identified as needing mental
health services, seeking such services can be blocked by
stigma and fear of negative professional consequences, losses
of standing, promotion potential, and/or pay (10,26,28).
Additionally, practical barriers exist for being able to attend
health appointments consistently due to shift work, mandatory
staffing practices, and associated time constraints (24,27).
A recent community-based study identified four critical
facilitators for improving mental health service use among first
responders: increasing knowledge, reducing stigma, increasing
positive experience with mental health providers, and removing
time-based burdens (27). This study by Jones et al. (27) addressed
initial steps in a Planned-Action based framework for translating
research into mental health care practice for first responders
having (step 1) identified the problem (i.e., first responders
underutilizing mental health care), (steps 2 and 3) reviewed the
evidence and adaptee toward innovation, and (step 4) assessed
barriers to uptake [see (29,30)]. The first responder community
would benefit from interventions that translate this knowledge
into practice.
In the current study, we sought to extend the next three
steps in a Planned-Action framework by (a) developing
an intervention that applies/translates known barriers and
facilitators (27), (b) implementing the intervention, and
(c) evaluating uptake and utilization (29,30). Within the
Planned-Action framework, we incorporated a rational stepped
care design feature to optimize for cost-effectiveness, future
scalability, and increased access in a scarce resource context
(3138). The overarching goal of the current manuscript is
to describe the intervention development, implementation,
and utilization process as a means to improve first responder
mental health.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Design and Setting
The University of Utah Institutional Review Board approved
all study procedures before the initiation of the intervention.
Attempts were made to contact all full-time personnel (with no
exclusions) in a fire department in the Rocky Mountain West
(n=429) to participate in this intervention. An administrator
at the first responder agency provided the clinical team with a
personnel list including names and contact information for every
first responder in the department. The clinical team generated
a unique, secure survey link associated with each member of
the department (generated using REDCap), and the list of first
responder names and unique survey links (containing access to
the Step 1 intervention survey described below) was provided
back to the mental health liaison at the first responder agency.
The agency liaison sent the unique Step 1 survey links via text
message, a participation maximizing effort, that the survey link
be received from “within tribe” (i.e., from a member of the
first responder department). Once they received the survey link,
participation required agreeing to informed consent. Informed
consent provided information about the aim of the survey, data
collection and storage procedures, as well as potential risks and
benefits of participation (e.g., feedback about wellbeing, access
to mental health professionals, consultation). When agreeing
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Wright et al. Preventative Care in First Responders
FIGURE 1 | Participation in each step.
to informed consent, participants were agreeing that if they
screened positive for any mental health risk, they would be
contacted by a scheduling assistant from the clinical team
to schedule an appointment with a mental health provider.
Individuals who agreed/consented were directed to a brief battery
of screening questions (completion time 1 min). Individuals
who declined consent were provided a list of mental health
resources and discontinued from participation. Further details of
the intervention are described below.
A total of 229 individuals (roughly 53% of the department)
participated (96.5% male, 95.2% White, mean age =42.28 [SD =
9.64]), including paramedics (47.8%), captains (24.6%), engineers
or drivers (19.3%), chiefs (5.3%), administration (2.2%), or other
(0.9%). The current sample is comparable to national firefighter
demographics (39). See Figure 1 for a summary of participation
by each step in the model.
Overview of Development and Pilot
Implementation
Improving mental health treatment access and utilization has
been the focus of dissemination and implementation science for
several decades (40). Whereas, some barriers and facilitators to
treatment are universal (e.g., availability of trained providers),
others are specific to populations [see (27)]. We sought to develop
an intervention that would improve access and utilization by
addressing first responder specific barriers and facilitators to
mental health services. To do so, we used a Process-Based
framework [i.e., Planned-Action; (29,30)] to extend the evidence
elucidated by Jones et al. (27). As such, our intervention design
choices were as follows:
(1) Maximize flexibility and reduce time-based
burdens/constraints by (a) using a brief risk screening
instrument that reduces participant burden and (b) offering
appointments via virtual telehealth that allowed for first
responders to schedule at their convenience.
(2) Reduce stigma by (a) delivering this as an intervention
that first responders in the participating agency could
“opt out” of and (b) communicate/conceptualize mental
health distress through an occupational stress/performance
enhancement framework.
(3) Increase knowledge by incorporating mental health
education and introducing skills aimed at enhancing
mental health.
(4) Increase positive experiences with mental health providers
by (a) training providers on first responder language
and culture and (b) communicating/conceptualizing mental
health distress through a culturally palatable (i.e., in
first responder cultures) occupational stress/performance
enhancement framework.
Additionally, we addressed rational considerations for cost and
efficiency of distributing therapeutic resources within healthcare
systems using a stepped care design (3234,36,37). Stepped care
involves providing treatment to patients in the least restrictive
setting while continuously monitoring the effectiveness of each
“step” in the treatment model (31). Moreover, stepped care
models may have complimentary value for improving access
by tailoring the treatment amount and type to the level of
care needed (31,38) which in turn optimizes the financial and
time cost to both patient and clinician (38) and allows for
efficiency of utilizing scarce resources (35). Finally, a stepped care
approach has scalability implications by aiming to operationalize
a set of reproducible, standardized procedures (37,41), often
complemented by the use of technology (42).
Step 1
All 429 personnel received a text message including a secure
survey link unique to that person from a mental health liaison
in their organization. Upon agreeing to informed consent,
individuals completed a self-report questionnaire (completion
length 1 min) comprised of 19 questions: six demographic
questions [gender, race/ethnicity, career length, recruit/new hire
status (yes/no), and primary occupational role]; and 13 questions
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Wright et al. Preventative Care in First Responders
screening for trauma history and symptoms of traumatic
stress, depression, anxiety, and alcohol use. Participants who
declined informed consent were provided with a list of mental
health service contacts for therapy and/or crisis services and
discontinued from the intervention. Engagement with the survey
was monitored by the clinical team, and if participants did not
engage [i.e., did not open the survey or complete consent (either
agree or disagree)], up to three attempts were made to contact
them before discontinuing them in the program.
Following completion of the Step 1 screening survey,
participants who screened as “positive” on one or more of
the measures (traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, alcohol
use) were contacted within 48–72 h. Participants who screened
positive for mental health risk(s) and who were contacted
successfully were offered the opportunity to have a 60-
min appointment with a mental health professional (Step
2). Notably, some participants screened positive for mental
health risks and were successfully contacted in attempts to
schedule for Step 2 virtual clinical appointment, but chose
to decline continued participation in the service. Individuals
who did not screen positive for a mental health risk received
a text message indicating that no risk was identified at this
time and were provided with contacts for mental health
services and crisis services should such a mental health need
exist nonetheless.
Step 1 Measures
Traumatic Stress Symptoms
Traumatic stress was assessed with an adapted version of the
Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 [PC-PTSD-5; (43)]
consisting of five questions used to reflect the Likert scale
associated with the PCL-5 [0 =not at all, 1 =a little bit, 2 =
moderately, 3 =quite a bit, 4 =extremely; see (4446)]. The
five items were summed together to obtain a continuous total
score (range =0–20) with of 10 or above indicating at risk.
Internal consistency was high for this sample (Chronbach’s α
=0.85).
Depression
The Patient Health Questionnaire-2 [PHQ-2; (47)] is a brief
depression screener consisting of two items answered on a 4-
point Likert scale (0 =not at all to 3 =nearly every day). Items
were summed with a total continuous score of 3 or above used
to indicate risk (47). Internal consistency was adequate for this
sample (Chronbach’s α=0.81).
Anxiety
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-2 (48) is a brief two-item
screener of anxiety symptoms answered on a 4-point Likert scale
(0 =not at all to 3 =nearly every day). Items were summed with a
total continuous score of 3 or above used to indicate risk. Internal
consistency was low for this sample (Chronbach’s α=0.50).
Alcohol Use
The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption
Questions [AUDIT-C; (49)] contains three items measuring
alcohol use frequency and quantity. Items were summed with a
total score of 4 for men and 3 for women indicating risk. Internal
consistency was adequate for this sample (Chronbach’s α=0.70).
Step 2
Before engagement in the virtual clinical interview (Step 2),
participants who screened positive in Step 1 and agreed to
schedule a Step 2 appointment were sent a new survey link,
which was automated to be sent 1 h before the appointment with
instructions to complete prior to the interview. The Step 2 survey
represented an expanded version of Step 1 with a focus on more
in-depth, reliable measures of PTSD (PCL-5; Weathers et al.,
2012) and depression [PHQ-9; (50)] to provide clinicians with
more clinically actionable information (e.g., which dimensions
of PTSD and mood were most clinically prominent). During
the scheduled appointment participants engaged in a 60-min
clinical interview with a mental health provider (psychologists or
licensed clinical social workers) comprised of four aspects.
(1) Psychosocial and functional assessment (30 min).
(2) Interactive education about the relationship between chronic
stress and mental/physical health tailored to the problems
identified in the assessment (15 min).
(3) Introduction of a brief problem-focused coping
skill (10 min).
(4) Recommendation/referral. After the clinical interview
possible referrals were made as follows: (a) trauma/PTSD
focused therapy; (b) brief neurocognitive screening (Step 3 in
the intervention); (c) medication evaluation; (d) behavioral
health interventions; (e) other types of therapies, (f ) general
stress-focused therapy via Employee Assistance Program; and
(g) no further recommendations. A combination of referrals
was possible for any given patient.
Step 2 Measures
Traumatic Stress Symptoms
The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5; Weathers et al., 2012)
contains 20 self-report items answered on a 5-point Likert scale
(1 =not at all to 5 =extremely) measuring probable stress-
related disorders. Items were summed with a total score of 33 or
above used to indicate risk (44). Participants were not required
to endorse a Criterion A trigger prior to completing the PCL-
5. Internal consistency was high for this sample (Chronbach’s
α=0.95).
Depression
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9; (50)] is a 9-item
self-report instrument answered on a 4-point Likert scale (0 =
not at all to 3 =nearly everyday) for depression. A total score of
10 corresponding to “moderate” depressive symptoms was used
to indicate risk. Internal consistency was high for this sample
(Chronbach’s α=0.90).
RESULTS
Step 1
At Step 1, 43% of respondents screened positive for at least
one identified risk (72 participants screened positive for one risk;
15 participants, two risks; eight participants, three risks; four
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Wright et al. Preventative Care in First Responders
TABLE 1 | Number of identified risks at step 1.
Number of identified risks Percentage
1 identified risk 72.7% (72)
2 identified risks 15.2% (15)
3 identified risks 8.1% (8)
4 identified risks 4.0% (4)
TABLE 2 | Probable diagnostic rates at step 1.
Diagnostic risk Percentage
PTSD 7.9% (18)
Depression 9.6% (22)
Anxiety 13.5% (31)
Problematic alcohol use 36.7% (84)
TABLE 3 | Probably diagnotic rates at step 2.
Diagnostic risk Percentage
PTSD 25.0% (14)
Depression 17.9% (10)
TABLE 4 | Recommendations and follow up.
Recommendation Percentage
Occupational trauma therapy
only
25% (14)
Step 3 brain health screen 5.36% (3)
Health behavioral intervention 3.57% (2)
Other therapy 3.57% (2)
Maintain employee assistance
program
1.79% (1)
Combination of referrals (e.g.,
occupational trauma therapy and
step 3)
42.1% (16)
participants, four risks). See Table 1. Probable diagnostic risk
rates were shown at the following distributions: PTSD (7.9%),
depression (9.6%), anxiety (13.5%), and problematic alcohol use
(36.7%), see Table 2. Individuals who screened positive for any
risk (n=99) were referred to Step 2.
Step 2
Of the 99 who screened positive and with attempts to contact
them, 56 engaged in the virtual telehealth appointment. Among
the 56 individuals who participated in Step 2, 17.9% were above
the cutoff for probable stress-related disorders while 25% were
identified as having moderate to severe levels of depression,
see Table 3. Of the 56 who participated in Step 2, 67.86% (n
=38) were recommended to pursue additional mental health
services beyond Step 2, which is equivalent to 17% of full-
time personnel who engaged in this intervention (denominator
=229). See Table 4 for the percentage of referrals by the level
of care. Among the 38 individuals who participated in Step 2
and received a recommendation for follow up 76.32% (n=29)
adhered to these recommendations.
DISCUSSION
Ample evidence suggests that first responders are difficult
to engage in mental health resources. Despite longstanding
knowledge of mental health risks are incurred among firefighters
as an occupational hazard, there is limited applied research and
behavior service delivery that focuses on improving access and
utilizization (27,51). The goal of the present study was to describe
an applied intervention aimed at decreasing barriers to access and
promoting the utilization of services among firefighters.
In summary, we utilized a combined approach, applying
barriers and facilitators identified by Jones et al. (27) into an
intervention, thereby extending a Planned-Action framework.
Specifically, Jones and colleagues identified these prime
facilitators of mental health service utilization among first
responders: increasing knowledge, reducing stigma, increasing
positive experience with mental health providers, and removing
time-based burdens. We intentionally targeted each of these
factors (e.g., flexible scheduling using a telehealth platform;
stigma reduction using an “opt-out” strategy and a normalizing
“performance enhancement” focus [rather than a pathology
orientation]; increase positive experience by providing cultural
training for providers). Additionally, we implemented the
intervention using a cost-conscious and utilization-boosting
stepped care implementation design [see (52)].
Our findings show that the current intervention was
engaged by 56% of “at-risk firefighters.” More than
half of those who screened positive and engaged in a
telehealth visit were provided with recommendations
for further mental health service follow-up (n=38),
among whom 76% (n=29) followed through with these
referrals. This is comparable to 62% recommendation
adherence in other samples [e.g., (52)]. Our high level of
adherence to follow-up recommendations suggests that low-
intensity intervention such as the one presented is useful in
promoting needed, preventative mental health service use
among firefighters.
First responders are often thought of as individuals who move
toward crises to come to the aid of others. This intervention
mirrored that sentiment by “moving toward” first responders and
meeting them where they are. The clinical scheduling assistant
reached out to participants within 48–72 h after screening
positive for risk. Prioritizing individualized communication
likely increased participation with the stepped care intervention.
Step 2 appointments were provided virtually, making it more
feasible for participants to attend. It has been well-noted that
aside from stigma-related barriers, structural barriers (53) often
hinder first responders from engaging with mental health
professionals. It is possible that follow through with the Step 2
session was boosted by the easily accessible format in this stepped
care intervention.
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Wright et al. Preventative Care in First Responders
It is also important to note that the number of firefighters
who were referred for more than one clinical session was only
17% of the total number who participated in this intervention
(denominator =229). This finding indicates the preliminary
value in an approach such as ours for “right sizing” resource
appropriations needed to provide substantive mental health
services, although much work is yet to be done to further
elucidate that cost/funding need across time (and to generalize
beyond one fire department).
This study was limited by several factors. First, this
intervention was implemented in a single fire department thus
limiting the generalizability of findings to other departments.
Further research needs to take this intervention system to
multiple fire departments to increase power as well as account
for potential differences in various stations. Second, this project
addressed firefighters but no other first responder populations
such as police officers, emergency medical technicians (EMTs),
and emergency dispatch. To evaluate its effectiveness in other
first responder fields this system needs to be tested in a variety of
emergency service stations as well as among adequate numbers of
first responders. Third, insufficient sleep was not measured in this
sample in the Step 1 screening tool. It has been widely established
that sleep problems are common among emergency personnel
(54) due to several factors such as disruptions of circadian
rhythm and exposure to occupational trauma (55). Examination
of insufficient sleep should perhaps be included in any initiation
of stepped care services, thus increasing opportunities to
provide psychoeducation as well as individualized referrals to
improve sleep. Fourth, funding constraints limited our ability
to engage participants in qualitative interviews about their
experience with the intervention. This is a critically missing
component for future research to endeavor to maximally
shape interventions to be effective across cultures. Fifth, some
individuals who screened as “at-risk” chose not to participate
in Step 2, and data on discontinuation was not gathered,
such as reasons for discontinuing despite being identified
with a mental health service need is an important next step.
Future studies should aim to examine the reasons for declining
participation to better serve this population. Sixth, we do not
have comprehensive follow-up data on either the efficacy of the
brief problem-focused interventions administered or the longer-
term efficacy of engaging in this intervention. It is important
for future studies with sufficient funding to pursue the value
of such brief intervention approaches. Established dissemination
and implementation frameworks [e.g., the Planned-Action
framework; (29); see (30)] are built to provide a rigorous and
larger-scale study of interventions such as this. Such work
would help to improve and expand these promising preliminary
findings, to promote high quality and best practices to help draw
in the largest proportion of “in need” first responders.
While the research on mental health outcomes for first
responders is limited, what does exist indicates that this
group is at significant risk for psychiatric conditions and
that they are hesitant to seek help. However, such hesitancy
to seek help, whether it be due to stigma or barriers to
access, should not be equated with disinterest in receiving
help when needed or offered. The results of this project
are encouraging as it shows that by providing appropriate
and tailored levels of care, firefighters can be open to
receiving mental health referrals and will engage with
said referrals. The work of a first responder has always
presented numerous challenges that increase the risk of
psychopathology. But with the ever-increasing number of
natural disasters, social unrest, and the ongoing COVID 19
pandemic, finding ways to increase access to mental health
resources and decrease the stigma among those services is
more important than ever. Much work remains to be done
to evaluate the effectiveness of mental health treatment in
this population.
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
The data presented in this article is not readily available given the
nature of this research, participants of this study did not agree
for their data to be shared publicly. Requests to access the data
should be directed to aj.smith-2@dartmouth.edu.
ETHICS STATEMENT
The studies involving human participants were reviewed and
approved by University of Utah IRB. The patients/participants
provided their written informed consent to participate in
this study.
AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS
HW and DFH wrote the manuscript. All authors contributed to
the article and approved the submitted version.
FUNDING
Program Description Issued By US Department of Homeland
Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA)/Grant Programs Directorate (GPD), Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number 97.044, CFDA Title
Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG), Notice of Funding
Opportunity Title FY 2018, Assistance to Firefighters Grants,
Notice of Funding Opportunity Number DHS-18-GPD-044-00-
99, Authorizing Authority for Program Section 33 of the Federal
Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, Pub. L. No. 93-498,
as amended (15 U.S.C § 2229), Appropriation Authority for
Program Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act,
2018 (Pub. L. No. 115-141), and Program Type New Grant
ID: EMW-2018-FO-05385.
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Wright et al. Preventative Care in First Responders
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0019
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... Brief mental health measures are contextappropriate and useful in medical settings (see [12] for review of measures), and standard of care already involves administration of mental health screening measures for depression, anxiety and substance use. Yet, screening for PTSD is often overlooked [12], which is especially problematic for rst responders [7,13]. ...
... First, a clinical sample (n = 36) included patients referred from rst responder agencies for trauma-related treatment who completed both the PCL-5 and PC-PTSD-5 (0-20) as part of clinical intake. The second sample included re ghters (n = 56) participating in a stepped-care, population health monitoring program designed to increase risk identi cation and mental health service utilization for rst responders (see [13]). Participants from the population health monitoring program sample completed the PC-PTSD-5 (0-20) as part of a rst step of screening, followed by completion of the PCL-5 at their rst clinical appointment. ...
... Internal consistencies for both permutations were adequate in the current sample, α = 0.74 for PC-PTSD-5 (0-5), α = 0.83 for PC-PTSD-5 (0-20). These internal consistencies were similar to previous research with such adapted PC-PTSD-5 [7,13,15]. Participants also completed the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) [16] which includes 20 items for evaluating symptoms on four PTSD clusters (re-experiencing/intrusions, avoidance, negative alteration in cognition and/or mood, and hyperarousal). ...
Article
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Background: By the nature of their work, first responders are at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Efficient screening instruments are useful to identify at-risk first responders and connect them to services. Aims: The current study aimed to (i) evaluate the diagnostic properties of the Primary Care PTSD for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) scale among firefighters, (ii) explore the use of an adapted PC-PTSD-5 on a five-point Likert-type scale and (iii) examine sensitivity and specificity of the adapted instrument in this population. Methods: Pooled data were analysed among firefighters (N = 92) from a treatment-seeking sample (n = 36) and a population health screening sample (n = 56). Participants completed an adapted version of the PC-PTSD-5 and the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were performed, referencing PCL-5 cut-off/probable diagnostic threshold scores. Results: The PC-PTSD-5 demonstrated excellent operating characteristics overall. A threshold of 3 was optimal for discriminating probable PTSD using a proxy for the original PC-PTSD-5 (range: 0-5), whereas a score of 9 was identified for the PC-PTSD-5 permutation that allowed for more response variability (range: 0-20). Conclusions: Our preliminary data suggest the PC-PTSD-5 may be a useful tool for brief firefighter screening, with suggested cut-offs that require further replication and expanded investigation.
... There are numerous barriers to care that result in only a small fraction of first responders who seek PTSD treatment, such as stigma, underreporting, cultures founded on hero archetypes and self-reliance, lack of knowledge, or lack of time (Jones et al., 2022;Kim et al., 2018;Wright et al., 2022). In the present study context (i.e., the nation of Turkey), an additional barrier comes in the form of a lack of non-English translated, validated, and culturally appropriate screening tools. ...
... In the present study context (i.e., the nation of Turkey), an additional barrier comes in the form of a lack of non-English translated, validated, and culturally appropriate screening tools. Improving PTSD screening globally involves translating, norming, and testing measures in first responder communities as a necessary empirical building block for risk identification and treatment access (Baker et al., 2024;Baker & Smith, 2023;Wright et al., 2022). ...
Article
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Objective: Like other first responders, many firefighters show signs of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that often go undiagnosed. Developing accessible, brief, and efficient screening tools may improve identification and service utilization. The most recent adaptation of the Primary Care PTSD Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–Fifth Edition (PCL-5; PC-PTSD-5 [0–20]) demonstrates promising screening performance among firefighters. Our study translated the PC-PTSD-5 [0–20] into Turkish and conducted validity and reliability analyses. Method: The PC-PTSD-5 [0–20] was translated and culturally adapted into Turkish through forward translation, backward translation, and expert-led refinement. We conducted a pilot test with 30 firefighters, followed by carrying out the full study among (N = 215) firefighters from fire stations across all the districts of Istanbul. Participants in the full study completed the Turkish PC-PTSD-5 [0–20] and PCL-5, and we analyzed them for reliability, validity, and diagnostic utility. Results: The Turkish PC-PTSD-5 [0–20] demonstrated favorable psychometric properties: acceptable internal consistency (α = .61); high test–retest reliability (r = 0.88, p < .001); and strong convergent validity with PCL-5 (r = 0.81, p < .001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed an area under the curve of 0.947 with an optimal cutoff score of 9 that balanced high accuracy (90.23%), sensitivity (82.86%), and specificity (91.67%), while PTSD prevalence was estimated at 16.3% in the sample. Conclusions: The Turkish PC-PTSD-5 [0–20] demonstrates strong psychometric properties, with high accuracy at a cutoff score of 9, and excellent diagnostic utility for screening PTSD among firefighters. Future research should explore its applicability to other first responder groups and predictive validity in longitudinal studies.
... †p < 0.05 or ‡p < 0.0001 statistical difference between this group and all other claims in chi-square testing. provide a means to increase uptake and improve access to services in first responders 29 . A stepped telehealth care approach could be developed and included in post-event measures. ...
... This could be achieved through pre-deployment medical assessment for older emergency responders, as well as improved periodic physical and mental health surveillance at work. The latter could be offered as a virtual tool to further lower barriers to participation 29 . ...
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Full-text available
There has been limited research on the health impacts of extreme bushfire exposure among emergency responders (ER) involved in suppressing extreme bushfires. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between extreme bushfires and ER’s compensated injury and illness in Victoria, Australia. State-wide ER compensation claims from January 2005 to April 2023 were analysed. Logistic regression modelling was used to identify factors associated with compensation claims during the extreme bushfire periods in 2009 and 2019/20, compared to all other claims, adjusting for seasonality (summer). Of the 44,164 included claims, 1105 (2.5%) had recorded injury/disease onset dates within extreme bushfire periods, and 11,642 (26.4%) occurred in summer months. Over half of claims were made by police (52.4%), followed by ambulance officers/paramedics (27.2%) and firefighters (20.5%). Extreme bushfire period claims were associated with older workers (odds ratio/OR = 1.58,95%CI = 1.30–1.92, ages ≥ 55 vs. 35–44 years). Mental disorders (OR = 1.61,95%CI = 1.25–2.07), intracranial injuries (OR = 3.04,95%CI = 1.69–5.48) and infections/parasites (OR = 3.11,95%CI = 1.61–5.98) vs. wounds were associated with extreme bushfire period claims. Given the expected increase in extreme bushfire events and the ageing workforce, study findings underscore the importance of primary and secondary prevention in ER. This can include periodic health surveillance for older workers, access to early treatment, and ongoing support for mental health conditions.
... Stigma is a powerful barrier for police officers to seek help and access beneficial mental health care (Edwards & Kotera, 2021;Haugen et al., 2017). Cultural and organizational factors, such as concerns about appearing weak or unfit for duty, fear of negative career implications, and lack of understanding or support from peers and supervisors (Bell & Eski, 2016;Soomro & Yanos, 2019;White et al., 2016), can contribute to reluctance of officers to disclose their mental health struggles (Karaffa & Koch, 2016;Ménard et al., 2016;Wright et al., 2022). Consistent with these findings, police officers have low rates of mental health service utilization (Boland & Salami, 2021). ...
... One method to improve the engagement of police officers in mental health services is to enhance PTSD screening, identification, and assessment tools and processes (Baker & Smith, 2023;Lucas et al., 2017;Wright et al., 2022). Valid and reliable self-report screening instruments are an important step in overcoming barriers to engagement (Warner et al., 2011). ...
Article
Full-text available
Objective: Police officers are at heightened risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to frequent exposure to traumatic stressors. Early identification of PTSD symptoms is crucial for timely intervention. However, stigma and low utilization of mental health services create barriers to accessing care, which can be improved through the use of accessible, brief, and efficient screening instruments. The Primary Care PTSD for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5; PC-PTSD-5) scale is a brief, five-item self-report questionnaire demonstrating good reliability and validity in the identification of probable PTSD among veterans and civilians but has not yet been examined in first responder populations. Method: In this study, we assess the psychometric properties of an adapted version of the measure (PC-PTSD-5 [0–20]) in a sample of U.S. police officers (N = 394), focusing on reliability, structural validity, measurement invariance, and convergent and discriminant validity. Results: Internal consistency of the PC-PTSD-5 [0–20] was good (α = .87), with uniform item-total correlations ranging from .78 to .83. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a single-factor structure (comparative fit index = 0.97, Tucker–Lewis index = 0.94, root-mean-square error of approximation = 0.12 (90% CI [.08, .16]), standardized root-mean-square residual = 0.03) that was invariant between male and female officers, χ²(9, N = 394) = 2.72, p = .974, and across years of service, χ²(9, N = 394) = 9.02, p = .436, providing evidence of construct validity. The measure also demonstrated convergent and discriminant validity, showing varying degrees of correlational strength with 20 operational stressors, the strongest of which were with traumatic stressors (r = .52, p < .001). Conclusions: These findings suggest the PC-PTSD-5 [0–20] may be a valuable tool for identifying PTSD symptoms in police officers, benefiting both clinical and research applications.
... Professional first responders are at high risk for mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and problematic alcohol use due to repeated exposure to stress and trauma. Preventive care and supportive systems are being implemented to assure the mental health of all first responders [65,66]. Andelius et al. [29] examined self-reported physical injuries and the psychological impact among activated citizen responders in the capital region of Denmark for all VFR alarms over the course of a year. ...
Article
Full-text available
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a leading cause of death worldwide, with a low survival rate of around 7% globally. Key factors for improving survival include witnessed arrest, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and early defibrillation. Despite guidelines advocating for the “chain of survival”, bystander CPR and defibrillation rates remain suboptimal. Innovative approaches, such as dispatcher-assisted CPR (DA-CPR) and smartphone-based alerts, have emerged to address these challenges. DA-CPR effectively transforms emergency callers into lay rescuers, and smartphone apps are increasingly being used to alert volunteer first responders to OHCA incidents, enhancing response times and increasing survival rates. Smartphone-based systems offer advantages over traditional text messaging by providing real-time guidance and automated external defibrillator (AED) locations. Studies show improved outcomes with app-based alerts, including higher rates of early CPR, increased survival rates and improved neurological outcomes. Additionally, the potential of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to deliver AEDs rapidly to OHCA sites has been demonstrated, particularly in rural areas with extended emergency medical services response times. Despite technological advancements, challenges such as ensuring responder training, effective dispatching, and maintaining responder well-being, particularly during the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, remain. During the pandemic, some community first responder programs were suspended or modified due to shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and increased risks of infection. However, systems that adapted by using PPE and revising protocols generally maintained responder participation and effectiveness. Moving forward, integrating new technology within robust responder systems and support mechanisms will be essential to improving OHCA outcomes and sustaining effective response networks.
... Prior to initiating full-scale clinical interventions, however, it is critical to understand the perspective of potential participants given that first responders have additional barriers to seeking treatment. Social barriers include a culture of selfreliance and heroic roles (Wright et al., 2022) as well as concerns of confidentiality and negative career impact (Haugen, McCrillis, Smid, & Nijdam, 2017). Additional practical barriers include scheduling concerns and not knowing where to seek help (Haugen et al., 2017). ...
Article
Full-text available
Background and aims First responders such as firefighters and police officers often experience traumatic events as part of their work. As a result, they are more likely to have mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety compared to the general population. Psychedelic-assisted therapy has emerged as a promising avenue to alleviate these issues, but little is currently known about first responders' interest in, and barriers to, these treatments. Here, we aimed to document first responders' attitudes towards LSD-assisted therapy and previous use of psychoactive drugs. Methods We recruited 102 participants through mailing lists of first responders' unions. Respondents were typically male firefighters in western Canada; others were police officers, paramedics, and military personnel across Canada and the United States. They were asked about their attitudes towards LSD- and marijuana-assisted therapies, previous psychiatric diagnoses, psychosocial impairments, and substance use. Results Respondents showed higher rates of distress and illicit drug use compared to the general population. Of those who sought professional treatment, a minority reported that the treatment had helped them. The respondents were generally interested in taking part in therapy or research involving LSD or marijuana. The setting (e.g., at home vs. a clinic), therapist presence, and drug dose were commonly reported to influence this participation. Conclusions First responders may particularly benefit from psychedelic therapy given their high interest in psychedelic drugs and high rates of treatment-relevant disorders. Better understanding the needs of this population will help inform future clinical trials and psychedelic therapies.
... The accumulation of significant trauma exposure and daily stressors yields high rates of risk for mental health problems (traumatic stress, substance use, suicide; Baker et al., 2022;Ponder et al., 2022Ponder et al., , 2023Queir os et al., 2020) and physical health problems (illness, cardiovascular disease, early mortality; Hickman et al., 2011;Violanti et al., 2013;Zimmerman, 2012). To reduce risk for these poor outcomes, researchers are charged with the task of identifying preventative factors and pathways that precede such outcomes (Wright et al., 2022). Occupational burnout is a key indicator, that if not preventatively targeted and reduced, can devolve into more severe mental and physical health conditions (Dyrbye et al., 2008;Hakanen et al., 2008;Salvagioni et al., 2017;Van der Heijden et al., 2008). ...
Article
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Purpose - Burnout is an issue affecting not only individual officers, but also the agencies they work for and the communities they serve. Despite its prevalence, there is limited evidence for effective interventions that address officer burnout. This study aims to advance this area of study by identifying organizational factors associated with police burnout. By identifying these factors, stakeholders interested in officer wellness will have more clearly defined targets for intervention. Design/methodology/approach - Self-report data were gathered from US police officers partitioned into command staff (n=125), detective (n=41), and patrol officer (n=191) samples. Bootstrapped correlations were calculated between 20 organizational stressors and officer burnout. Findings - Findings revealed several shared organizational stressors associated with burnout regardless of role (command staff, detective, patrol officer), as well as several role-specific organizational stressors strongly associated with burnout. Together, these findings suggest utility in considering broad-based organizational interventions and role-specific interventions to affect burnout amidst varying job duties. Research limitations/implications - Primary limitations to consider when interpreting these results include sample homogeneity, unequal subsample sizes, cross-sectional data limitations, and the need for implementation of interventions to test the experimental effects of reducing identified organizational stressors. Practical implications - This study may provide command staff and consulting parties with targets to improve departmental conditions and officer burnout. Originality/value - This represents the first study to evaluate organizational stressors by their strength of association with burnout across a stratified police sample.
... 19 Further, stepped care approaches have also shown potential in reducing stigma and structural barriers to accessing mental health services, particularly among priority populations. 20 Australian stepped care research is in its infancy, with stepped care still being developed and fully implemented and integrated into primary care. 13 The few Australian studies that do exist are in the early phases of evaluation, with many being pilot or feasibility studies. ...
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Introduction Mental well-being is a global public health priority with increasing mental health conditions having substantial burden on individuals, health systems and society. ‘Stepped care’, where services are provided at an intensity to meet the changing needs of the consumer, is the chosen approach to mental health service delivery in primary healthcare in Australia for its efficiencies and patient outcomes; yet limited evidence exists on how the programme is being rolled out and its impact in practice. This protocol outlines a data linkage project to characterise and quantify healthcare service utilisation and impacts among a cohort of consumers of a national mental health stepped care programme in one region of Australia. Methods and analysis Data linkage will be used to establish a retrospective cohort of consumers of mental health stepped care services between 1 July 2020 and 31 December 2021 in one primary healthcare region in Australia (n=approx. 12 710). These data will be linked with records from other healthcare service data sets (eg, hospitalisations, emergency department presentations, community-based state government-delivered mental healthcare, hospital costs). Four areas for analysis will include: (1) characterising the nature of mental health stepped care service use; (2) describing the cohort’s sociodemographic and health characteristics; (3) quantifying broader service utilisation and associated economic costs; and (4) assessing the impact of mental health stepped care service utilisation on health and service outcomes. Ethics and dissemination Approval from the Darling Downs Health Human Research Ethics Committee (HREA/2020/QTDD/65518) has been granted. All data will be non-identifiable, and research findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations and industry meetings.
... High satisfaction with the Text4PTSI intervention implies respondents benefit from the program and highly recommend Text4PTSI to help broadly manage the mental health burden of PSP. A study among first responders, which focused on the usage of telehealth care, reported that out of 38 individuals who were recommended to seek mental health services, about 29 (76%) agreed to adhere to treatment via web-based or telehealth means [38]. ...
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MI did better than assessment and feedback for medium follow‐up SMD 0.38 (95% CI 0.10 to 0.66). For short follow‐up, there was no significant effect . For other active intervention there were no significant effects for either follow‐up. There was not enough data to conclude about effects of MI on the secondary outcomes. Authors' conclusions MI can reduce the extent of substance abuse compared to no intervention. The evidence is mostly of low quality, so further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY Motivational interviewing is a short psychological treatment that can help people cut down on drugs and alcohol More than 76 million people worldwide have alcohol problems, and another 15 million have drug problems. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a psychological treatment that aims to help people cut down or stop using drugs and alcohol. The drug abuser and counsellor typically meet between one and four times for about one hour each time. The counsellor expresses that he or she understands how the clients feel about their problem and supports the clients in making their own decisions. He or she does not try to convince the client to change anything, but discusses with the client possible consequences of changing or staying the same. Finally, they discuss the clients' goals and where they are today relative to these goals. We searched for studies that had included people with alcohol or drug problems and that had divided them by chance into MI or a control group that either received nothing or some other treatment. We included only studies that had checked video or sound recordings of the therapies in order to be certain that what was given really was MI. The results in this review are based on 59 studies. The results show that people who have received MI have reduced their use of substances more than people who have not received any treatment. However, it seems that other active treatments, treatment as usual and being assessed and receiving feedback can be as effective as motivational interviewing. There was not enough data to conclude about the effects of MI on retention in treatment, readiness to change, or repeat convictions. The quality of the research forces us to be careful about our conclusions, and new research may change them.
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A component of Australia’s recent national reform agenda for mental health services is the directive to the Primary Health Networks to develop and implement stepped-care models of service delivery. The current guidance proposes that interventions are aligned to mild, moderate and severe illness categories. Other models in operation are tied to single disorders, such as depression. Both approaches have a number of limitations when applied to real-world, complex clinical practice, especially in primary care. This article outlines some limitations of these models and argues for the development of a transdiagnostic model, based on developments in our work in primary care youth services, which can be generalised to adult populations. Such models aim to ensure that consumers receive the right intensity of care at the right time. The adjunct use of technology within services could also improve service accessibility and outcomes monitoring, and help to improve the efficiency of resource allocation based on consumer need.
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The mental health of frontline workers is critical to a community's ability to manage crises and disasters. This study assessed risks for mental health problems (traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, alcohol use, insomnia) in association with pandemic-related stressors in a sample of emergency and hospital personnel (N = 571). Respondents completed self-report surveys online from April 1st to May 7th, 2020 in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States. Results showed that roughly fifteen to thirty percent of respondents screened positive for each disorder. Odds of screening positive were similar between groups for probable acute traumatic stress, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and alcohol use disorder; emergency personnel reported significantly higher rates of insufficient sleep than healthcare workers. Logistic regressions showed that respondents who reported having an immunocompromised condition had higher odds of acute traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression. Having an immunocompromised household member was associated with higher odds of insufficient sleep and anxiety. Being in a direct care provision role was associated with higher odds of screening positive for risky alcohol use. Being in a management role over direct care providers was associated with higher odds of screening positive for anxiety, risky alcohol use, and insufficient sleep. There was an inverse relationship between number of positive COVID-19 cases and anxiety, such that as positive cases went up, anxiety decreased. Overall, the mental health risks that we observed early in the COVID-19 pandemic are elevated above previous viral outbreaks (SARS) and comparable to rates shown in disasters (9/11 attacks; Hurricane Katrina).
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This study examined levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and relationships between PTSS and alcohol-related outcomes in a near census of municipal firefighters. The study also assessed substance-use coping and drinking to cope as potential mediators of such outcomes. Firefighters (N = 740) completed measures that assessed PTSS, alcohol risk behaviors, alcohol problems, drinking motives, and coping with stress. Results showed that 32.4% of firefighters reported significant levels of PTSS using National Center for PTSD (2014) screening cutoff scores. Correlational analysis showed that PTSS was related to at-risk drinking (r = .18) and alcohol-related problems (r = .33), as well as use of maladaptive coping strategies (r = .58) and substance use coping (r = .40). Structural analyses comparing multiple alternative models suggested that a model that included substance use coping and drinking to cope as mediators of the association between PTSS and problem drinking provided the best fit to the data. Tests of multigroup invariance confirmed this model. Overall, PTSS were common in this population and they predicted maladaptive coping patterns and alcohol-related consequences. One implication of these findings is that fire departments might consider adding or enhancing screening and treatment options for PTS, alcohol misuse, or both.