Role of peer support in mitigating PTSD and suicide risk among firefighters experiencing colleagues’ death

Background: The impact of witnessing a colleague’s line-of-duty death or suicide on firefighters is profound, potentially elevating the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicide risk. Although violent loss has been acknowledged as more traumatic than natural loss, research exploring the specific outcomes of experiencing a colleague’s death within these contexts are scarce.

Methods: Of 58,299 South Korean firefighters, 53,980 (92.6%) participated in the survey. Posttraumatic symptoms, suicide risk, alcohol-related problems, emotional damage due to emotional labour, and perceived support from colleagues were assessed. Moderated mediation effects were analyzed using SPSS PROCESS macro Model 88.

Results: The findings highlighted the significant mediating roles of emotional damage due to emotional labour and alcohol-related problems in the relationship between colleagues’ death experiences and PTSD or suicide risk. Additionally, peer support mitigated the impact of experiencing colleagues’ death on PTSD symptoms and suicide risk.

Conclusions: Our study sheds light on the complex interplay between grief, traumatic responses, and peer support in firefighters, suggesting enhancing peer support as an important intervention component to mitigate the psychological impact of witnessing a colleague’s death. This study not only broadens our understanding of firefighter bereavement and mental health challenges but also underscores the importance of targeted therapeutic strategies to prevent PTSD and suicidal behaviours in this high-risk population.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Witnessing a colleague's death increases firefighters’ risk of developing PTSD and suicide risk.
• Peer support acts as a protective factor against these negative outcomes, mitigating the psychological impacts.
• High levels of peer support significantly reduce the psychological impacts from witnessing a colleague's death, emphasising the importance of strong support systems within fire departments.