Young volunteers needed for new mental health survey

The work of volunteers in fire and emergency services is crucial, with volunteers often facing dangerous and stressful situations.

A new 12-month research project aims to promote good mental health and wellbeing of volunteers, beginning with a short online survey for young adult volunteers between the ages of 16 and 25.

You can find more information and access the survey here.
Note: if you are under 18, you will need parental consent before participating.

This anonymous survey takes approximately 30 minutes to complete, asking questions about health, wellbeing and support needs while volunteering, focusing on experiences of the 2019/20 bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey responses will provide vital information to fire and emergency agencies and will help support the development of a relevant, practical and usable framework for supporting the mental health of young volunteers.

Conducted as part of the CRC’s Tactical Research Fund, the 12-month project – the new Positive Mental Health Research Program – is led by Dr Amanda Taylor and her team at the University of Adelaide. The research is supported by, and in partnership with, Flinders University, the University of Western Australia, the Hospital Research Foundation and AFAC. 

Dr Taylor highlights the importance of research that supports positive mental health of volunteers, especially young volunteers.

“Your work is so important, and we know that you face extraordinary challenges. This research is all about finding out more about the challenges you face, and how to best support your mental health and wellbeing as part of a fire and emergency service agency,” Dr Taylor said.

The project comprises two phases. The first phase – beginning with this survey – is focused on mental health and wellbeing of young volunteers between the ages of 16 and 25 only, while the second phase will focus on the wellbeing and resilience of first responders of all ages (taking place in October 2020). This will allow emergency service agencies to understand the range of risk and protective factors for mental health, across all personnel, and assist agencies to find ways to foster resilience over the longer term in their first responder personnel. It is imperative that younger volunteers are represented in this to ensure that this longer-term planning can take into account their particular needs.

Together, these surveys will provide rich information on how agencies can best support their personnel.

If you have any questions about the survey or the research, please get in touch with Dr Amanda Taylor (08 8313 4485, amanda.taylor@adelaide.edu.au