@article {bnh-7880, title = {Mental health and wellbeing of Australian police and emergency services employees}, journal = {Archives of Environmental \& Occupational Health}, year = {2021}, month = {03/2021}, abstract = {

Answering the Call, the Australian National Police and Emergency Services Mental Health and Wellbeing Study, surveyed 14,868 Australian ambulance, fire and rescue, police, and state emergency service employees. Emergency services personnel had lower rates of mental wellbeing and higher rates of psychological distress and probable PTSD than the general adult population. Overall 30\% had low wellbeing, 21\% had high and 9\% had very high psychological distress, and 10\% had probable PTSD. An estimated 5\% had suicidal ideation and 2\% had a suicide plan in the past 12 months, while 16\% binge drink at least weekly. Only one in five of those with very high psychological distress or probable PTSD felt they received adequate support for their condition. These findings highlight the risk of mental health conditions associated with work in the emergency services sector.

}, keywords = {Ambulance, common mental disorders, firefighters, mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychological distress, service users, stigma and discrimination}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1080/19338244.2021.1893631}, url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19338244.2021.1893631?journalCode=vaeh20}, author = {Michael Kyron and Wavne Rikkers and Jennifer Bartlett and Emma Renehan and Katherine Hafekost and Michael Baigent and Rebecca Cunneen and David Lawrence} } @article {bnh-7041, title = {Prevalence and predictors of suicidal thoughts and behaviours among Australian police and emergency services employees}, journal = { Australian \& New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry}, year = {2020}, month = {07/2020}, abstract = {

Objective:

This study presents rates of suicide thoughts and behaviours of police and emergency services personnel around Australia. In addition, it examines personal (i.e. mental health, substance use) and working environment risk and protective factors.

Method:

A stratified random sample of personnel from 33 Australian emergency services organisations were invited to participate in a mental health and wellbeing survey. In total, 14,868 Australian ambulance, fire and rescue, police and state emergency services employees participated and self-reported any suicidal thoughts, plans and/or attempts in the 12 months prior to the survey or at any stage in their life. Logistic regressions assessed factors associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

Results:

Employees reported notably higher rates of suicidal thoughts and plans than the general Australian adult population, but not attempts. Male, single/divorced, non-heterosexual or longer-serving employees reported higher rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviours across each sector. Perceptions of stigma regarding mental health conditions from others in the workplace, negative impact of work on one{\textquoteright}s private life and low meaning of work were associated with suicidal thoughts, while bullying significantly differentiated who planned and attempted suicide from those who reported suicidal thoughts only. Higher resilience and social support were associated with lower suicidal thoughts, while intermittent explosive anger and illegal drug use were associated with higher rates of suicidal thoughts. Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms significantly differentiated who planned suicide, while misuse of prescription drugs and psychological distress differentiated who attempted suicide from those who only reported suicidal thoughts.

Conclusion:

Amid inherently stressful occupations, it is important that workplaces function in a way that supports their personnel. Access to mental health services should be promoted and readily available to personnel.

}, keywords = {Ambulance, depression, firefighters, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867420937774}, url = {https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0004867420937774}, author = {Michael Kyron and Wavne Rikkers and Andrew Page and Patrice O{\textquoteright}Brien and Jennifer Bartlett and Anthony LaMontagne and David Lawrence} }