Abstract

This study analyzes and evaluates the current operation of the “Mobile Counseling Center,” a program designed to support firefighters vulnerable to mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, sleep disorders, and problematic drinking. It also proposes institutional improvements. Since its introduction in 2015, the “Mobile Counseling Center” program has demonstrated positive outcomes regarding accessibility to counselors and early intervention. By 2025, the program's budget has expanded to approximately 5.8 billion KRW, with the cumulative number of counseling sessions exceeding 410,000. However, structural limitations persist, including a lack of counselor expertise, discontinuity in counseling services, insufficient dedicated counseling spaces, regional financial disparities, and the absence of a systematic post-evaluation framework. To address these issues, this study proposes several institutional measures: training and managing professionals based on health psychology, institutionalizing an integrated mind-body management system for firefighters, enhancing counselors’ understanding of organizational structure and job characteristics, utilizing retired firefighters as counselors, securing funding through the Fire Security Tax, establishing dedicated counseling spaces, and developing a systematic post-evaluation framework. These improvements are expected to enhance the effectiveness of the “Mobile Counseling Center” and contribute to a sustainable psychological support system for firefighters' mental health.