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.