Status of Burnout & Moral Injury
Evidence
Studies measuring burnout and moral injury in the public safety workforce have often focused on mental health outcomes and processes that can lead to burnout and moral injury. The literature is also frequently focused internationally, possibly due to a stronger focus on public safety workers.
Research conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic found that 20% of their population of EMTs, paramedics, and firefighters experienced burnout.1 A 2023 study conducted in the U.S. during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with firefighters across five states in the U.S. found nearly 60% had experienced moral injury or a “morally injurious” event, and nearly 50% experienced at least one symptom of PTSD.2 These studies indicate public safety workers and learners are experiencing high levels of burnout, moral injury, and mental health issues, and while the evidence is somewhat limited, may also suggest worsening related to the COVID pandemic.
References
- Katsavouni F, Bebetsos E, Malliou P, Beneka A. The relationship between burnout, PTSD symptoms and injuries in firefighters. Occupational medicine (Oxford). 2016;66(1):32-37.
- Dill J, Schimmelpfennig M, Anderson-Fletcher E. Wounds of the Spirit: Moral Injury in Firefighters. 2023.
