NEW online resilience training for firefighters could help workers across a variety of high-stress roles, a Black Dog Institute study has found.
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The world-first study, working with New South Wales first responders, this week revealed significantly higher levels of mindfulness, optimism and healthy coping strategies among those who took part.
Findings come a month ahead of the annual Walking Off the War Within event in Ballarat, raising awareness for post-traumatic stress among emergency services and military personnel.
Walking Off the War Within was sparked by Ballarat's Nathan Shanahan, who had walked 400 kilometres for awareness and support one year before his death.
Event now also runs in Canberra, Kalgoorlie and in multiple sites across the Northern Territory and support suicide prevention and mental health promotion, including proactive research at Black Dog Institute.
The Institute's latest study shows online resilience training can play a key role in how organisations develop and maintain mentally healthy workplaces.
University of New South Wales senior psychologist Sadhbh Joyce, who is part of the university's workplace mental health research team based in the Institute, said bolstering resilience was important for all work places. She said situations emergency services face put their workers at greater risk for depression and PTS.
“First responders face unique challenges, and it is important they are provided with the very best training and support; however, the psychological skills we teach firefighters are relevant to workers in all sorts of high-stress roles," Ms Joyce said.
Fire and Rescue NSW is adopting the Resilience@Work (RAW) Mindfulness Program as part of its proactive mental health approach. The e-learning program has also been rolled out to Reuters journalists worldwide and employees at NSW Ambulance.
Psychological skills we teach firefighters are relevant to workers in all sorts of high-stress roles.
- Sadhbh Joyce, Black Dog Institute senior psychologist
The program aims to help organisations more easily equip workers with mental health skills they need.
Walking Off the War Within's Ballarat challenge is open to all ages and abilities to walk as little as they like up to 20 kilometres at St Patrick's College on March 23.
More: walkingoffww.com
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