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A National Fire Agency's survey findings from South Korea recently revealed a concerning reality: 4 out of 10 fire officials suffer from various mental disorders, including sleep disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. 

The alarming number underscored the pressing need to address the mental well-being of these professionals, especially in the wake of recent tragic incidents that have highlighted the challenging environments they operate in.

The survey, conducted with 52,802 fire officials in collaboration with Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from March to May 2023, indicated that nearly 44% of respondents are at risk of experiencing one or more major mental disorders, such as PTSD, depression, sleep disorders, or excessive alcohol use. 

Specifically, 27.2% reported being diagnosed with a sleep disorder, while 26.4% acknowledged excessive alcohol consumption. Additionally, 6.5% disclosed suffering from PTSD and 6.3% from depression, with respondents having the option to select multiple categories.

Initiatives and solutions

Efforts are underway to address these challenges, according to local authorities, including the construction of a mental care center for fire officials in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, set to be completed by 2026. However, there are additional concerns regarding the lack of funding for memorial services honoring fallen firefighters. Despite a longstanding tradition of annual memorial services, the National Fire Agency has not allocated a separate budget for this purpose in the past two decades.

Allocating resources for memorials

To rectify this, the agency has earmarked 100 million won for honoring fallen firefighters this year, with a portion allocated to providing memorial gifts for their families and the remainder dedicated to constructing a memorial road for six firefighters who perished in the line of duty in 2001. These efforts aim to recognize the sacrifices made by firefighters, who have faced significant risks, with 42 casualties recorded between 2014 and 2024, including the recent tragic loss of two firefighters.