Wildland firefighter PTSD rates are 4x the general population and under-diagnosed

Studies show 14-22% of wildland firefighters meet criteria for probable PTSD, which is 4x the general population rate. Depression prevalence ranges from 17-44% and anxiety from 13-49% depending on the study. Most alarmingly, 55% of wildland firefighters report a history of suicidal behavior, and 22% report at least one suicide attempt. Yet fewer than half of those with PTSD symptoms have ever been clinically diagnosed. This matters because untreated PTSD impairs decision-making under pressure, exactly the skill wildland firefighters need most. A crew boss with undiagnosed PTSD may freeze during a blowup or make impulsive escape decisions that endanger the entire crew. The under-diagnosis persists because wildland fire culture glorifies toughness, seasonal workers lose health coverage in the off-season when they might seek help, and most duty stations are in remote rural areas with no nearby mental health providers who understand fire-specific trauma.