Acute stress and early signs of PTSD are common in firefighters and other first responders − here’s what to watch out for

The thousands of firefighters and other first responders on the front lines of the fires that are raging in the Los Angeles area are at increased risk for anxiety, depression, acute stress and post-traumatic stress disorder. Amanda Mascarelli, The Conversation U.S.’s senior health and medicine editor, spoke with Ian H. Stanley, a clinical psychologist and emergency medicine researcher, about the early signs of acute stress or PTSD and how you can help if a loved one is experiencing these symptoms. Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health condition that develops following exposure to a life-threatening event such as a wildfire, a car accident, physical assault or combat.

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