Grant: Catalyst Grant: PTSI among PSP workers

In May 2016 the area of Fort McMurray was devastated by a wildfire. Firefighters from across Alberta and further afield were deployed to contain the fire and its damage to property. For many firefighters, particularly those fighting the fire during the first few days, the experience was physically and mentally overwhelming. In a study started very soon after the fire we have recruited some 1200 of the firefighters and have followed them to see which symptoms have recovered and which are still with them 30 months after the fire. We are now proposing to carry out a clinical interview with many of the firefighters, particularly those who report mental ill-health, to see what we can learn about factors that predispose people to particular types of mental health issues (such as post-traumatic stress disorder) and how interventions at the workplace can reduce the severity or duration of such conditions.