Investigating Mental Health and Its Relationship with the Variables of Age, Education, and Service History in Firefighters in Shahrekord in 2018

Abstract

Introduction: Mental health is one of the social needs, since the proper functioning of a society requires people who are in a good condition in terms of mental health. Firefighters are the most important special occupations that need high physical and mental strength to perform their duties and missions safely. The present study was conducted to evaluate the mental health of Shahrekord firefighters.

Methods: The present cross-sectional correlational study was conducted on 152 people who were working in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province fire department in 2018 and the sample size in Shahrekord was 61 people and only 52 people cooperated. The data collection tool was Goldberg General Health Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using GHQ software.

Results: The results showed that there was no significant relationship between general health and the variables of age, level of education, and service history. However, there was a relationship between depression and age, and also depression and level of education.

Conclusion: The study findings reveal that depression level is high among firefighters, which can cause a variety of physical and mental illnesses. People who are depressed may be unable to perform daily tasks and even feel that life is worthless. Creating such a mindset with increasing age and work pressure in sensitive jobs, such as firefighting can be very traumatic. The education level variable can also be used as a deterrent or reduction factor for depression.