🚨 1 in 5 Firefighters Experiences Depression
There are people who enter fire and accident scenes before anyone else. They are our firefighters.
Firefighters repeatedly experience dangerous situations such as fire suppression, rescue operations, and emergency responses. Because of these occupational characteristics, interest in the mental health of firefighters is growing.
In reality, firefighters can experience continuous stress due to shocking experiences at accident scenes, repeated emergency dispatches, and changes in life rhythm caused by shift work. Such an environment can easily lead to emotional burdens like depression and anxiety. Domestic research has reported that about 20% or more of firefighters have experienced depressive symptoms.
As such, managing firefighters’ mental health is becoming an important task that can no longer be delayed. Against this background, one study posed an interesting question:
“How can meditation affect firefighters’ mental health, especially depression and anxiety?”
🧘♂️ Meditation Program Research for Firefighters’ Mental Health
A study published in 2025 analyzed changes in depression and anxiety by applying the Ma-eum Su-ryun meditation program to firefighters. The study involved 116 firefighters.
The research design was as follows:
- Participants: 116 firefighters
- Program: A short-term program based on subtraction meditation
- Duration: 6 hours in total
- Measurement Tool: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
The program was not just a simple relaxation meditation; it involved a self-reflection process of looking back at one’s own mind. Participants understood the principles of how the mind is formed, reflected on their lives by recalling images of the past, recognized the causes of their stress, and experienced the process of letting go of emotions through subtraction meditation. Finally, it concluded with a session where they shared their individual experiences.
📊 Research Results: What Were the Changes in Firefighters’ Mental Health?
One interesting feature appeared in the research results. Looking at the participants as a whole, it was difficult to say there was a statistically massive change. However, meaningful changes were confirmed in the groups with high levels of depression or anxiety.
First, in the high-risk depression group, the level of depression decreased after the program, and simultaneously, anxiety scores also tended to decrease. This change was confirmed to be statistically significant.
Additionally, similar results were found in the high-risk anxiety group. Participants’ anxiety symptoms decreased, and the analysis confirmed a medium or larger effect size.
This result shows an important possibility in managing firefighters’ mental health: the changes from the meditation program can appear more prominently in those who already carry heavy stress and emotional burdens, rather than in those whose minds are relatively stable. Another notable point is that these changes were observed even after just a 6-hour Ma-eum Su-ryun meditation program.
🗣️ Changes Experienced by Participants
The study also analyzed self-reflection essays written by the participants. Through these, participants shared the following experiences:
- Self-Reflection and Inner Insight“By emptying my mind, I was able to shake off my past and welcome a version of myself that has grown to the next level.” — (Participant 12, Fire Suppression Member)
- Emotional Relief“I didn’t know how to relieve the stress accumulated after firefighting duties, but thanks to the program, my mind feels light.” — (Participant 8, Fire Suppression Member)
- Learning Mind Management Methods“I gained the mental space to control myself and realized that I don’t need to be highly stressed.” — (Participant 21, Fire Suppression Member)
- Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Protection Awareness“Through this process, I hope I can change the mind of a colleague in a crisis situation.” — (Participant 41, Situation Management Personnel)
Some participants also mentioned experiencing deep empathy while listening to the stories of their colleagues.
❤️ Firefighters’ Mental Health Needs to Be Talked About More Now
We live in an era where we must manage our mental health just as we manage our physical health. This is especially true for occupational groups like firefighters who repeatedly face extreme situations. Firefighters’ mental health is not an individual problem, but an important topic that society as a whole must pay attention to together.
This study showed the possibilities meditation holds in alleviating firefighters’ depression and anxiety. Although more research will be needed, it seems clear that the process of reflecting on and organizing the mind can be a powerful method for mental health recovery.
When we talk about the dedication of firefighters, shouldn’t we now be talking about their mental health as well?
Source:
- The Effects of a Short-term Program Based on Mind Subtraction Meditation for the Mental Health of Firefighters: Focusing on Depression and Anxiety (2025)
