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The first aim of this study was to compare self-reported trauma symptoms among three groups of high-risk professionals: firefighters, policeman and soldiers, who had served in international operations. The second aim was to examine associations between different types of traumatic experience and trauma symptoms in each group, as well as to examine perceived coping resources. The third aim of the study was to explore the perception of trauma risk for these three groups from the perspective of the professionals and the general public. Participating in this study were 50 soldiers from ages of 24 to 49; 65 firefighters from ages of 19 to 58; and 85 policemen from ages of 20 to 59. All respondents were male. Perceptions from the general public were provided by 663 respondents, from ages 18 to 78, of which 138 were female and 525 male. Trauma symptoms were measured by the Trauma Symptom Inventory (Briere, 1995). Firefighters reported higher ratings of depression and dissociation compared to soldiers and policeman. Firefighters who had experienced the death of a colleague or threat to one's life, and those policemen who had experienced the death of a stranger reported higher trauma symptoms. Family support, colleagues and the desire to help others were the main factors which firefighters and policemen perceived as helpful in their professions. Both professionals and the general public perceived the soldier profession as the psychologically most traumatic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]