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The aim of this study was to develop a Mental Health Education Program for new fire officials and to verify its effectiveness. The program was developed through a pilot study, needs analysis, model design, and content selection. It was conducted over three days with a total of seven sessions, with fifty new fire officials participating in the program. Stress, anxiety, and self-efficacy levels among new fire officials were examined before and after the program. The results indicated that stress and anxiety were meaningfully reduced after completing the program, and self-efficacy was improved. Interviews conducted with participants after program completion reported that relaxation training was usually used and the psychological support of colleagues who also attended the program had the effect of reducing job-related stress. This study makes a meaningful contribution through developing a program that reflects the characteristics of new fire officials. The program was developed using a scientific and systematic method through needs analysis.

This study investigated the mediating effect of depression on the correlation of job stress, depression, and suicidal ideation among 1,331 new fire officials who have worked below three years. For analysis, the Korean Occupational Stress Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised were used. First, we examined the mental health status of new fire officials and analyzed the correlation between job stress, depression, and suicidal ideation. The data were analyzed using the multiple regression analysis method to verify the mediating effect of depression on the correlation between job stress and suicidal ideation. The study found that job stress of new fire officials was positively correlated with depression and suicidal ideation. Depression has a positive correlation with suicidal ideation. When the mediating effect of depression was considered, depression was a partial mediator variable between job stress and suicidal ideation. These results suggest that more efficient and timely treatment in a preventive way will help new fire officials reduce job stress and depression. Moreover, it will be more effective to establish a counterplan for suicide prevention for fire officials.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between generational differences, generational conflict, communication ability, and job burnout among members of firefighting organizations and examine the effects of generational conflict and communication ability on job burnout. Using a sample of 209 firefighters, generational differences and conflict were found to be positively related to emotional exhaustion, a subfactor of job burnout, and communication ability was negatively related to emotional exhaustion. The relationship between generational differences and emotional exhaustion is fully mediated by generational conflict and communication ability. Although the overall indirect effects were not significant, generational conflict and communication ability were found to influence job burnout. These findings provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the link between generational differences and job burnout. This study’s findings suggest that despite generational gap existing within firefighting organizations, fostering mutual respect and communication ability may be effective in preventing conflict-related burnout.

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