How to track behavioral health changes

Many people are familiar with the American Heart Association’s Know Your Numbers program, which focuses on being aware of your status on cardiovascular risk factors. But not as many people think about tracking behavioral health symptoms and other health-related factors, like alcohol intake.

Unfortunately, people seem to be the worst judge of their own behavioral health. Because of the way behavioral health challenges, such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms develop, it is not uncommon for them to get progressively worse – often without the person realizing how much they are struggling until the people around them see changes in behaviors, attitudes and actions.

There are several screening tools available that firefighters can use on a regular basis to monitor or track their emotions, behaviors and/or symptoms of stress, depression or anxiety. One example is the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Life Safety Initiative #13 geared toward psychological support, which recommends a Trauma Screening Questionnaire (TSQ). Mental Health America also offers a depression test and an anxiety test.

Another important area related to behavioral health is monitoring alcohol use. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism offers screening tests to help individuals evaluate their behavior.

Being aware of your risk factors is important, whether it is cardiovascular risk factors, behavioral health or substance use. Know your numbers. Track your numbers over time. And importantly, address the health problems once you identify them.

Read Jahnke's full article, "Know your numbers: Tracking physical and behavioral health."

About the author

Sara Jahnke, PhD, is the director and a senior scientist with the Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research at the National Development & Research Institutes - USA. With over a decade of research experience on firefighter health, Dr. Jahnke has been the principal investigator on 10 national studies as well as dozens of studies as a co-investigator. Her work has focused on a range of health concerns, including the health of female firefighters, behavioral health, risk of injury, cancer, cardiovascular risk factors, and substance use, with funding from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant R&D Program, the National Institutes of Health and other foundations. Jahnke has more than 100 publications in the peer-reviewed medical literature. Awards include the 2019 Endowed Lecture at the annual conference of the American College of Epidemiology; the 2018 President’s Award for Excellence in Fire Service Research as well as the Excellence in Research, Safety, Health & Survival Award, both from the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC); and the 2016 John Granito Award for Excellence in Firefighter Research from the International Journal of Fire Service Leadership and Management. Connect with Jahnke on LinkedIn, Twitter or via email.