Firefighters 9/11 Stress Studied

Nov. 13, 2002
UFA to study nearly half its members to examine mental health and stress factors.The union representing city firefighters announced yesterday that it has launched a massive study of nearly half its members to examine their mental health and the factors that cause excessive stress on and off the job. The Uniformed Firefighters Association said the study will be conducted by Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, which will poll 3,000 firefighters and 300 retirees. "The people I work with are clearly not themselves

UFA to study nearly half its members to examine mental health and stress factors.The union representing city firefighters announced yesterday that it has launched a massive study of nearly half its members to examine their mental health and the factors that cause excessive stress on and off the job.

The Uniformed Firefighters Association said the study will be conducted by Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, which will poll 3,000 firefighters and 300 retirees.

"The people I work with are clearly not themselves," said UFA President Stephen Cassidy. "Talking about how home life is, everyone says it's not what it used to be. Everyone put their lives on hold after 9/11."

Cornell Professor Samuel Bacharach said, "We want to find out what we need to do to help these guys."

The study will begin with questionnaires, which should be completed by February. Researchers will then conduct several hundred one-on-one interviews, before evaluating the data.

Bacharach said he hopes to know the results this summer.

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