Gyeonggi Fire Department to Open 'Firefighting Trauma Management Center' in April

The Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters will open the ‘Firefighter Trauma Management Center’ at the end of April to heal job-related stress such as mental trauma experienced by firefighters.

The Firefighter Trauma Management Center will be established on the first floor of the Fire and Disaster Headquarters after remodeling, covering an area of 540㎡ and including ▲ four counseling rooms ▲ two program rooms ▲ a multipurpose room ▲ and a self-healing room.

It will operate various programs such as one-on-one personal counseling, diagnosis and psychological testing, and mental health lectures for firefighters as well as disaster-affected residents.

Additionally, it will build a psychological support cooperation system with related organizations such as the National Trauma Center, provide emergency crisis support and customized programs for high-risk groups, specialized counseling tailored to each target group, and link high-risk mental health groups to regional specialized treatment centers.

Kim Jaebyeong, head of the Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters, said, "The Firefighter Trauma Management Center is a space created with a budget of 500 million KRW to counsel and treat mental issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experienced by firefighters deployed to disaster sites. We will do our best to create a mentally safe Gyeonggi-do by caring for the mental health of firefighters and residents."

Meanwhile, according to a survey conducted by the National Fire Agency on firefighters’ mental health, investigating five items including frequency of traumatic event experiences, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, suicide risk, and sleep problems, the percentage of those needing treatment has gradually increased from 11.2% in 2020 to 16.1% in 2023.