Abstract:

Military firefighters play a vital role in a wide range of situations, ranging from simple to complex, scheduled or emergency. Their responsibilities include everything from inspections and project assessments to firefighting, rescues, and salvage operations. Despite the rigorous training and ongoing professional development courses they undergo throughout their careers, these professionals often face high-pressure situations, risks, and even deal with death.

The aim of this study is to analyze an internship program involving psychology students from a Brazilian university working with a Brazilian firefighter unit. The goal of the professional internship was to develop a project that would provide support for the physical and mental health of military firefighters. Studies on the dynamics of health and illness, and their relation to firefighters' work, reveal that both the activities performed and the organization of work significantly impact the health of these professionals. The impact of such a profession's work might range from becoming a source of satisfaction and fulfillment to a source of suffering and stress, depending on the circumstances and demands faced in the firefighter's day-to-day work.

The methodology of the study comprised a descriptive correlational and cross-sectional stage, which was submitted to the university's ethics committee and conducted in 2021 during the pandemic. Data collection utilized an online protocol consisting of a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale Short Form (DASS 21). The study involved 134 firefighters, including officers and enlisted personnel. The second stage involved a case study demonstrating the proposed actions with the qualitative results from the first stage.

Results from the first stage revealed that men and women exhibited the same depression rate (15%), while women showed higher rates of anxiety (27%) and stress (18%). Sergeants and Lieutenants had higher rates of depression (23% and 33%) and stress (17% and 25%). Sergeants and Corporals indicated higher levels of anxiety (16% and 20%). The correlation of excessive demands during incident response showed signs of depression (50%), anxiety (33%), and stress (25%). Of the firefighter sample, 20% considered the work stressful. These results supported the creation of a project comprising three programs: the first was a space for listening and reflections on social skills and soft skills, the second was a space for relaxation and mindfulness, and the third program was a channel for brief counseling and psychotherapy. The internship helped the involved students recognize the importance of academia and research programs, internships, and extension activities that support corporate programs and practices for preventing mental health issues among workers.

Keywords:

Firefighters, mental health, university internship.