Mental Health Disorders, Organizational Stigma, and Health Service Utilization Among US Fire Investigators A Cross-sectional Survey

Objective: The aim of the study is to estimate in a sample of US fire investigators the (1) prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) risk, and mental health services use and (2) association between organizational stigma and mental health disorders. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study design used to administer between November 2023 and January 2024, a 35-item behavioral/mental health survey. Results: Approximately 18.0% of fire investigators had GAD, 22.8% depression, and 18.2% PTSD risk. Organizational stigma about mental health disorders was reported by 53.3% of fire investigators. The most frequently used behavioral/mental health services were cognitive behavioral therapy (40.1%) and medication management (36.1%). Organizational stigma around reporting mental health disorders was significantly associated with PTSD risk (adjusted odds ratio = 5.25 [2.41-11.43]). Conclusions: Mental health disorders are present in the fire investigator workforce, and organizational stigma is associated with limited report of PTSD risk.