David Ware, FIFireE and Chair of the IFE Mental Health & Well-being in Fire & Emergency Services Special Interest Group, reflects on World Mental Health Day. It is a chance to consider an issue that matters every day: how we look after our own psychological wellbeing and support those around us.
Within fire and emergency services and the wider fire safety sector, we understand preparation. We maintain equipment, develop professional knowledge, practise skills and consider physical and operational risk.
Psychological wellbeing deserves a place within that same conversation. Emergency-service work can expose people to situations that most members of the public may rarely experience. Importantly, the impact may not always come from one major event.
The cumulative effect
One way we have described this within the IFE Mental Health & Well-being in Fire & Emergency Services Special Interest Group is the “invisible rucksack”. Everyone can arrive at work carrying things others cannot see. Some may come from operational incidents. Some may come from workplace pressures. Others may come from life outside work.
Another difficult incident or demanding shift may then be added to that rucksack. Over days, months and years, those experiences can accumulate. That is why the final event that seems to affect someone may not be the whole story and everyone responds differently. Experiencing stress or being affected by a difficult event does not automatically mean somebody has a mental-health condition. We should be to develop awareness, recognise when something has changed and know when additional support may be appropriate.
One simple thing we can all do is periodically consider our own wellbeing. Questions such as:
- Are you more tired than usual?
- Are you finding it difficult to switch off?
- Are you becoming more irritable or withdrawn?
- Are you still enjoying the things you normally enjoy?
- Are you giving yourself appropriate opportunities to recover?
Something doesn't need to be “wrong” before we consider these questions. The principle is simple: know your own normal and notice when something changes.
Recovery is part of readiness
We should also think differently about recovery. Recovery is not simply something that happens after somebody becomes unwell. It can be part of maintaining our ability to continue undertaking demanding work.
Sleep, rest, exercise, healthy routines, family time, social connection and activities away from work can all contribute to recovery. What works will differ between individuals. There will also be times when informal support and healthy recovery are not enough. Accessing appropriate professional support should be seen as a responsible response when needed. If there is an immediate concern about somebody's safety, always access appropriate emergency or crisis support in accordance with local arrangements.
Making psychological readiness part of professional readiness
The IFE Mental Health & Well-being in Fire & Emergency Services Special Interest Group is working to bring together firefighters, fire engineers, leaders, mental-health professionals, researchers and others to share knowledge and develop practical approaches to psychological wellbeing.
One principle guiding this work is that psychological readiness should be considered alongside other aspects of operational readiness.
Mental health and wellbeing should not be something we only discuss when somebody reaches a point of crisis. By making psychological wellbeing part of everyday professional conversations, we can help create environments where people feel more able to speak up, seek appropriate support, and look out for one another. For people whose careers involve protecting others and mitigating danger: looking after themselves and each other matters too.
Members can log into MyIFE to learn more about the SIG and explore its resources.