“Emergency services workers may attend car accidents, suicides, bushfires or family violence incidents—they enter a high-risk industry for mental health injury,” says Tim Peck, Senior Specialist Police and Emergency Services at Phoenix Australia.
“So, when they join that industry, they need to focus on their own mental health. In policing, you go to the academy and do plenty of physical training ready to go out on the job but the reality is that you’re more likely to get a mental health injury than a physical injury. Throughout their career, it’s imperative that emergency services workers concentrate on their mental health and have a strong care plan in place.”
Tim says the cumulative effect of witnessing traumatic event after traumatic event can take a toll on mental health. Knowing who to reach out to and what resources are available is important in ensuring emergency services workers get the right support at the right time.