For the first time, a nationwide research project investigated the mental health and wellbeing of Australia’s emergency service staff and volunteers. Beyond Blue in collaboration with the CRC, surveyed 20,000 current and former personnel from 33 police and emergency organisations across Australia about their mental health and risk of suicide.

The final report, Answering the Call, is available on the Beyond Blue website.

A Hazard Note, summarising the main findings, is also available.

It was the first time data is being collected on a national scale from police and emergency service organisations. The research was conducted in three phases after qualitative analysis was gathered by Beyond Blue in phase one during 2016.

Police and emergency service workers were surveyed about their wellbeing; common mental health conditions; suicide risk; stigma; help-seeking behaviour; and factors supporting, or jeopardising, mental health in the workplace.

This project provides important information to understand both the number of people affected and the range of issues they face.

Initial findings from phase one suggest:

• the nature of the stigma associated with mental health conditions differs across police, fire and rescue and ambulance services;
• although exposure to trauma is seen as an underlying cause for post-traumatic stress disorder, workplace culture and practices also contribute to the prevalence of mental health conditions;
• working in police and emergency services, particularly for volunteers, can support workers’ mental health.

Evidence-based strategies will be developed to individuals, improve organisational culture and address systemic concerns that impact on mental health and wellbeing across the sector nationally. They will be developed in collaboration with a cross-section of the police and emergency services sector including agencies, unions, government departments, individuals and family and community groups around Australia.