Dr Heather Bancroft

Completed PhD student
About
Dr Heather Bancroft

Dr Heather Bancroft’s study has improved the knowledge of the prevalence of mental health disorders amongst Australian volunteer and career firefighters, as well as the understanding of the range of factors contributing to better and worse mental health outcomes.

Four organisations participated in her research: SA Country Fire Service, ACT Fire and Rescue; ACT Rural Fire Service and the NT Fire and Rescue Service. Heather conducted 300 clinical interviews with career and volunteer firefighters to assess their mental health. She then collected additional information through
two identical online surveys that were completed by 817 participants in round one and 335 in round two.

Depression and alcohol dependence (both 5.5 per cent) were identified as the two most prevalent rates of mental health disorders experienced in career firefighters during the interviews, while anxiety (4.9 per cent) and depression (4.4 per cent) were the most common disorders found in volunteer firefighters. These results were compared to the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing from 2007, which found that, compared to the general population, volunteer firefighters had a lower rate of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but higher rates of anxiety, while both career and volunteer firefighters had a higher rate of alcohol dependence. Heather discovered that career firefighters who had high job satisfaction because of aspects like shift work, physical fitness requirements and the responsibility of the job, had fewer symptoms of PTSD and depression.

Heather says that the research is showing that a supportive and open culture within the fire services will help to reduce the stigma associated with having a mental health problem.

Heather presented her research findings at the CRC’s Research Forum in 2018 and has had extensive experience working in the sector as a clinical psychologist with Ambulance Victoria, where she was Clinical Director of the Victorian Ambulance Counselling Unit. Heather runs her own business, Bancroft Psychological Consulting, as well as working as the Resource Development Officer at the Australian Psychological Society.

Student project

This study has improved the knowledge of the prevalence of mental health disorders amongst Australian volunteer and career firefighters, as well as the understanding of the range of factors contributing to better and worse mental health outcomes.
03 Sep 2019
What is the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and alcohol...
Prevalence and predictors of mental health in firefighters
18 Sep 2018
This study aimed to identify the prevalence and predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD...
Improving our knowledge of the mental health and wellbeing of firefighters
30 Jun 2017
This study aims to:Identify the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety...
Heather Bancroft Conference Poster 2016
12 Aug 2016
This study will improve our knowledge of the prevalence of mental health disorders amongst...
What Factors Contribute to Better and Worse Mental Health in Firefighters
18 Aug 2015
This project aims to investigate which individual, operational and organisational factors...
Wellbeing of firefighters
25 Aug 2014
This project aims to investigate the wellbeing of Australian urban and regional firefighters as...

Resources credited

Send a message to Dr Heather Bancroft (via CRC)

User Contact