@article {bnh-7880, title = {Mental health and wellbeing of Australian police and emergency services employees}, journal = {Archives of Environmental \& Occupational Health}, year = {2021}, month = {03/2021}, abstract = {

Answering the Call, the Australian National Police and Emergency Services Mental Health and Wellbeing Study, surveyed 14,868 Australian ambulance, fire and rescue, police, and state emergency service employees. Emergency services personnel had lower rates of mental wellbeing and higher rates of psychological distress and probable PTSD than the general adult population. Overall 30\% had low wellbeing, 21\% had high and 9\% had very high psychological distress, and 10\% had probable PTSD. An estimated 5\% had suicidal ideation and 2\% had a suicide plan in the past 12 months, while 16\% binge drink at least weekly. Only one in five of those with very high psychological distress or probable PTSD felt they received adequate support for their condition. These findings highlight the risk of mental health conditions associated with work in the emergency services sector.

}, keywords = {Ambulance, common mental disorders, firefighters, mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychological distress, service users, stigma and discrimination}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1080/19338244.2021.1893631}, url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19338244.2021.1893631?journalCode=vaeh20}, author = {Michael Kyron and Wavne Rikkers and Jennifer Bartlett and Emma Renehan and Katherine Hafekost and Michael Baigent and Rebecca Cunneen and David Lawrence} } @article {bnh-8079, title = {Positive mental health in young adult emergency service personnel}, number = {675}, year = {2021}, month = {06/2021}, pages = {107}, institution = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

Overview

Fire and emergency service personnel, particularly those who volunteer, contribute in innumerable ways to their communities and to Australian society more broadly. Engaging in such a role brings the benefits of connecting with like-minded others and a valued sense of contributing to the community, benefiting mental health and wellbeing (Son \& Wilson, 2012). Concurrently, however, fire and emergency service personnel are more likely than the general population to be exposed to potentially traumatic events (PTE), are at higher risk for developing mental health conditions, and are at two-fold increased risk of suicidal ideation (Beyond Blue Ltd., 2018). Therefore, maintaining good mental health for personnel is increasingly recognised as an integral part of the sustainability of the fire and emergency services. Maximising the productivity and retention of younger early-career volunteers is particularly important, given that over half of the current volunteer force across many emergency services (ambulance, fire and rescue, state emergency service) exceeds 55 years of age (Beyond Blue Ltd., 2018). To ensure the sustainability of the fire and emergency services broadly and the volunteer force more specifically, recruitment and retention of younger volunteers is imperative.

While numerous individual, social and organisational factors have been identified as contributing to mental health and, thus, the sustainability of volunteering, mental health support frameworks, along with research and resources for the mental health of fire and emergency service personnel have focused on outcomes across the age range and length of service (Varker et al., 2018), with limited consideration given to developmental factors that may impact initial uptake and engagement. In particular, emerging adulthood (the period between ages 16{\textendash}25 years) is recognised as a specific phase of development that has its own particular constellation of psychosocial and demographic correlates (e.g., identity exploration and openness to possibility; Arnett, 2000). Australian young people tend to access support for mental health difficulties through different means than traditional face-to-face mental health services or programs, including from peers, parents and sourcing information regarding mental health online (Mission Australia \& Black Dog Institute, 2017). Uptake of formal mental health programs (e.g., school counselling) can also be limited (Rickwood et al., 2007). Thus, a {\textquoteleft}one size fits all{\textquoteright} approach to mental health across emergency service personnel may not be acceptable to the younger adult cohort. Of concern, younger volunteers were reported in the AtC study into the mental health of fire and emergency responders in Australia to have higher levels of self-reported psychological distress and lower levels of resilience than older volunteers (Beyond Blue Ltd., 2018). Early intervention is recognised as an essential approach for preventing and minimising mental health conditions (McGorry \& Mei, 2018).

The present research project was developed in response to a call to action from agencies that the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authority Council develop data-driven approaches for supporting mental health, aligned with best practice guidelines and targeted specifically at young fire and emergency service volunteers, supported by practical guidance to agencies for implementing these approaches.

Project Aims and Objectives

The overall aim of the project was to understand what can be done at an individual, local and organisation-wide level to minimise the short- and long-term impacts of potentially traumatising events and to support and promote good mental health and wellbeing for young adult (16{\textendash}25-year-old) volunteers in emergency service organisations.

Specific objectives for the project were as follows:

  1. To summarise the international and national evidence concerning the prevalence of mental health symptoms and/or psychological distress in young fire and emergency service volunteers and individual, social and organisational risk and protective factors for mental health.
  2. To create a summary of self-reported mental health and wellbeing in the context of risk and protective factors among young Australian emergency service personnel using data from the Answering the Call: National Health and Wellbeing Study of Police and Emergency Services and the Metropolitan Fire Service Health and Wellbeing Study.
  3. To develop an understanding of the existing programs and services utilised by young emergency services volunteers to support their mental health and wellbeing following a significant Australian disaster (the 2019{\textendash}2020 bushfires) and during a worldwide pandemic, as well as their perceived usefulness.
  4. To develop an understanding of the current psychosocial safety climate within the Australian emergency service sector as it relates to young fire and emergency service personnel, as well as the mental health programs and supports available to and utilised by these young adults.
  5. To develop an understanding of the young emergency services volunteers{\textquoteright} perspective of perceived facilitators and barriers to accessing relevant mental health services both within and outside the organisation and appropriate sources and type of information that are most likely to be accessed by those volunteers.
  6. To develop a Wellbeing Framework for fire and emergency service organisations to support young adult volunteers{\textquoteright} mental health and wellbeing.
  7. To develop a plain language information guide for supporting mental health and wellbeing targeted at the young adult volunteer cohort.

This report presents information and outcomes for these objectives and provides recommendations for agency-based implementation of the proposed Wellbeing Framework for Young Fire and Emergency Service Volunteers. The outputs of this project are informed by data from this cohort and are aligned with the available evidence for best practice in relevant contexts. It is hoped that the framework and its associated implementation guide will assist agencies in providing informed psychosocial support for the mental health of their young volunteers, thereby contributing to the sustainability of the volunteer service among fire and emergency service agencies. Please note that key terms used throughout the report are defined in the Glossary (Chapter 12).\ 

}, keywords = {emergency service, mental health, personnel, volunteers, young adult}, isbn = {978-0-6452058-0-0}, issn = {675}, author = {Amanda Taylor and Jane Cocks and Sharon Lawn and David Lawrence and Wavne Rikkers and Louise Roberts and Maureen Ashe and Alexander McFarlane and Rachel Roberts and Paul Delfabbro and Holly Caruso and Miranda Van Hooff} } @article {bnh-7869, title = {Sexual Orientation and Prevalence of Mental Health Difficulties among Emergency Services Employees}, journal = {Journal of Affective Disorders}, year = {2021}, month = {02/2021}, abstract = {

Background

LGBQ+ people (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer) are at-risk of discrimination and developing mental health issues within general populations. Limited research has assessed their mental health in emergency services occupations, a population which are known to experience poorer mental health. The current study explores the extent to which sexual orientation is associated with higher rates of mental health issues among emergency personnel.

Methods

A stratified random sample of employees from twenty-nine police (N = 8,088), ambulance (N = 3,473), and fire and rescue (N = 2,975) agencies from around Australia participated in a cross-sectional mental health survey (N = 14,536, male = 64.2\%, 42.7\% over 45 years of age, heterosexual = 92.7\%).

Results

Employees with a bisexual/pansexual orientation or those who were not sure about their sexual orientation were significantly more likely to report suicidal thoughts, suicide plans, psychological distress, and illicit drug use when compared with heterosexual employees. LGBQ+ employees reported significantly higher rates of lifetime suicide plans and attempts. Specifically, LGBQ+ fire and rescue personnel were roughly six times more likely to report lifetime suicide attempts, and approximately five times more likely to use illicit drugs weekly than their heterosexual colleagues in the fire and rescue sector. Female LGBQ+ personnel were significantly less likely to consume illicit drugs weekly and monthly than male LGBQ+ personnel.

Conclusions

Emergency services personnel are already at-risk of developing pervasive mental health difficulties. It is important that organisations foster positive working environments, particularly for LGBQ+ people who may be more marginalized within organisations.

}, keywords = {Bisexual, emergency services, Gay, Lesbian, mental health, Queer}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.02.032}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032721001506}, author = {Michael Kryon and Peter McEnvoy and Dylan Gilbey and Ashleigh Lin and Catherine Mazza and Wavne Rikkers and Jennifer Bartlett and David Lawrence} } @article {bnh-7040, title = {Experiences of Police and Emergency Services Employees with Workers{\textquoteright} Compensation Claims for Mental Health Issues}, journal = {Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation}, year = {2020}, month = {07/2020}, pages = {1-10}, abstract = {

Purpose\ To assess employees{\textquoteright} experiences of the workers{\textquoteright} compensation claim process for psychological trauma, stress or a mental health condition sustained during the course of work in the police and emergency services sector.\ Methods\ 14,868 employees (69.4\% male, response rate = 22\%) from around Australia participated in\ Answering the Call: the Beyond Blue National Mental Health and Wellbeing Study of Police and Emergency Services, and were asked questions regarding their workers{\textquoteright} compensation experiences for mental health reasons.\ Results\ 14\% of all employees in police and emergency services organisations had made a workers{\textquoteright} compensation claim for mental health reasons. Only 8.2\% of employees making a claim had a positive experience (95\% CI 6.6{\textendash}9.8) while 70.3\% had a poor experience (95\% CI 67.6{\textendash}73.0). Two-thirds of employees who had made a claim reported that the process was unsupportive and stressful, and over half reported that it had an overall negative impact on their recovery. Employees with poor overall support from their managers and those who perceived negative stigma about mental health in their workplace were more likely to report poor experiences.\ Conclusions\ The workers{\textquoteright} compensation process is perceived negatively by most police and emergency services employees who have experience with it, and a majority found that it negatively impacted on their recovery. Ways to reform the system to better support employees experiencing significant functional impairments related to mental health issues should be urgently considered.

}, keywords = {emergency responders, mental health, police, worker{\textquoteright}s compensation}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-020-09909-8}, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10926-020-09909-8}, author = {Michael Kyron and Wavne Rikkers and Patrice O{\textquoteright}Brien and Jennifer Bartlett and David Lawrence} } @article {bnh-7041, title = {Prevalence and predictors of suicidal thoughts and behaviours among Australian police and emergency services employees}, journal = { Australian \& New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry}, year = {2020}, month = {07/2020}, abstract = {

Objective:

This study presents rates of suicide thoughts and behaviours of police and emergency services personnel around Australia. In addition, it examines personal (i.e. mental health, substance use) and working environment risk and protective factors.

Method:

A stratified random sample of personnel from 33 Australian emergency services organisations were invited to participate in a mental health and wellbeing survey. In total, 14,868 Australian ambulance, fire and rescue, police and state emergency services employees participated and self-reported any suicidal thoughts, plans and/or attempts in the 12 months prior to the survey or at any stage in their life. Logistic regressions assessed factors associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

Results:

Employees reported notably higher rates of suicidal thoughts and plans than the general Australian adult population, but not attempts. Male, single/divorced, non-heterosexual or longer-serving employees reported higher rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviours across each sector. Perceptions of stigma regarding mental health conditions from others in the workplace, negative impact of work on one{\textquoteright}s private life and low meaning of work were associated with suicidal thoughts, while bullying significantly differentiated who planned and attempted suicide from those who reported suicidal thoughts only. Higher resilience and social support were associated with lower suicidal thoughts, while intermittent explosive anger and illegal drug use were associated with higher rates of suicidal thoughts. Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms significantly differentiated who planned suicide, while misuse of prescription drugs and psychological distress differentiated who attempted suicide from those who only reported suicidal thoughts.

Conclusion:

Amid inherently stressful occupations, it is important that workplaces function in a way that supports their personnel. Access to mental health services should be promoted and readily available to personnel.

}, keywords = {Ambulance, depression, firefighters, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867420937774}, url = {https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0004867420937774}, author = {Michael Kyron and Wavne Rikkers and Andrew Page and Patrice O{\textquoteright}Brien and Jennifer Bartlett and Anthony LaMontagne and David Lawrence} } @conference {bnh-4768, title = {Mental health and wellbeing in the police and emergency services sector}, booktitle = {AFAC18}, year = {2018}, month = {09/2018}, publisher = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC}, organization = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC}, address = {Perth}, abstract = {

While work in the emergency services sector is vital to the wellbeing of our communities, it can often be demanding and stressful. People who work or volunteer for ambulance, fire and rescue, police and state emergency services can face life and death challenges and at times respond to very distressing situations. Supporting and protecting the wellbeing of police and emergency service employees and volunteers is a key priority across the sector.

beyondblue is currently undertaking the National Mental Health and Wellbeing Study of Police and Emergency Services, with support from the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC. Phase two of this study involves the first nationally representative survey of police and emergency services workers and volunteers in Australia. This survey, called Answering the Call, is being conducted by The University of Western Australia and Roy Morgan Research on behalf of beyondblue. With participation from over 30 agencies from all Australian states and territories, the survey is investigating the prevalence of wellbeing and mental health conditions, the use of support services and programs, stigma, workplace culture and dynamics and other factors that impact on the wellbeing of police and emergency services personnel.

While results from the survey are expected to be released later in 2018, this presentation will discuss the approach that was taken to measure issues affecting mental health and wellbeing, the challenges faced in conducting the survey; and barriers and opportunities in engaging with agencies across the sector. An overview of what is already known from previous research in police and emergency services agencies and related sectors both in Australia and internationally will also be provided.

}, author = {David Lawrence and Wavne Rikkers and Jennifer Bartlett} }