Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and mindfulness facets in relation to suicide risk among firefighters.

OBJECTIVE: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are associated with increased suicide risk among firefighters. Few studies have examined modifiable factors, such as mindfulness facets, that might attenuate this association. This study examined the interactive effects of PTSD symptoms and mindfulness facets in relation to suicide risk among firefighters.

METHOD: Overall, 831 career firefighters were assessed for PTSD symptoms, mindfulness facets, and suicide risk via the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, and Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised, respectively.

RESULTS: Greater PTSD symptoms were associated with more severe suicide risk; however, higher levels of two specific mindfulness facets, acting with awareness and nonjudging of inner experience, attenuated this association. By contrast, higher levels of the observing facet of mindfulness potentiated the association between PTSD symptoms and suicide risk.

CONCLUSIONS: Suicide prevention initiatives among firefighters, particularly those experiencing trauma-related sequelae, might benefit from the inclusion of mindfulness-based practices alongside frontline empirically-supported approaches.