DIAGNOSTIC RESOURCES

It is easy to read about mental health symptoms and start to wonder if what you are feeling has a name. However, before assuming or self-diagnosing, it's important to take a step back and remember: Only a licensed mental health professional can diagnose conditions like PTSD, anxiety, or depression.

This page is meant to guide you toward credible diagnostic tools and trusted information, not to label you. The goal is AWARENESS - helping you understand what certain symptoms may mean, what to look for, and when it might be time to reach out for professional support.

As firefighters, you are used to solving problems quickly and getting answers fast. However, mental health doesn't work that way. Healing begins with understanding, and understanding starts with accurate information from qualified sources.

RESOURCES & SELF ASSESSMENTS

PTSD Checklist for DSM-5

The PCL-5 is a 20-item self-report measure that assesses the 20 DSM-5 symptoms of PTSD. The PCL-5 has a variety of purposes, including

Monitoring symptom change during and after treatment
Screening individuals for PTSD
Making a provisional PTSD diagnosis

TRAUMA SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE

The TSQ is a 10-item symptom screen that was designed for use with survivors of all types of traumatic stress. The TSQ is based on items from the PTSD Symptom Scale - Self Report

Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5)

The CAPS is the gold standard in PTSD assessment. The CAPS-5 is a 30-item structured interview that can be used to:

Make current (past month) diagnosis of PTSD
Make lifetime diagnosis of PTSD
Assess PTSD symptoms over the past week

SELF SCREEN

Taking a PTSD self-screen can help you learn if your feelings and behaviors are related to PTSD. Things that bother you now or keep you from doing things you want or need to do could be related to a trauma in your past.