Young volunteer positive mental health and wellbeing resources

These young volunteer positive mental health and wellbeing resources were developed by the CRC Tactical Research Fund project, Positive mental health in young adult emergency services personnel.

This project was a partnership between the CRC, AFAC, the University of Adelaide, the University of Western Australia, Flinders University, the University of British Columbia, the Hospital Research Foundation, Military and Emergency Services Health Australia and key fire and emergency services, as well as the young adult members of AFAC’s Young Volunteers Advisory Committee, who informed the development of all resources.

The project team have created a valid, practical and usable framework and several reliable resources to support positive mental health and wellbeing in young adult (16-25 year old) fire and emergency service volunteers. These can be utilised at an individual, local and organisation-wide level, in order to minimise the short and long term impacts of exposure to potentially traumatising events, and maintain and promote mental health and wellbeing more generally.

The young volunteer positive mental health and wellbeing resources included here are:

• Care4Guide in three formats:

1. The Care4Guide PDF booklet can be viewed online, saved or downloaded.
2. The Interactive Care4Guide can be completed online.
3. The web installer module can be used to embed the Interactive Care4Guide within external systems, including on agency websites (see instructions below).

The Care4Guide is a self-completed guide to positive mental health and wellbeing as a young fire and emergency service volunteer. This guide is designed to be used by volunteers to maintain and practice positive mental health. It can also be used by leaders and organisations to promote positive mental health and wellbeing within fire and emergency services and other volunteer-based organisations. 

• The Care4Guide videos and animations can be shared within organisations or on social media to further promote positive mental health. 
• The Care4Guide posters can be downloaded, printed (for hanging in organisations) or shared online. 
• The Care4Guide social media assets can be downloaded for sharing online, designed especially for social media. 
• The Fact Sheets of key findings, highlighting the research-based evidence behind the Care4Guide and other resources, can be downloaded, printed or shared online. 

There is also a Young Volunteer Wellbeing Framework and an Agency Implementation Guide, which are both accessible in the project final report, for fire and emergency service organisations to support the mental health and wellbeing of young adult volunteers.

CARE4GUIDE PDF BOOKLET:

INTERACTIVE CARE4GUIDE:

INTERACTIVE CARE4GUIDE - WEB INSTALLER MODULE: 

There are two main ways to install and use the Interactive Care4Guide: local installation and embedded installation. 

Local installation:

1. Download the ‘Care4GuideQuiz12.zip’ folder by clicking DOWNLOAD INSTALLER above. 
2. Ensure that all the contents of this folder stay together and are not renamed.
3. Upload this zip folder to the local agency server to enable agency users to download from a single location. This folder is large, so it is impractical to send via email.
4. Once downloaded to a local computer from the agency server, unzip (or extract all files from) the folder.
5. Click on the ‘index’ HTML file to play the interactive module.
6. Please note that all accompanying files and folders are required for the ‘index’ HTML file to run.

Embedded installation:

1. Download the ‘Care4GuideQuiz12.zip’ folder by clicking DOWNLOAD INSTALLER above. 
2. Unzip (or extract all files from) the folder.
3. Ensure that all the contents of this folder stay together and are not renamed.
4. Embed the ‘index’ HTML file on a dedicated web page, ensuring all related files are also uploaded to the web server.
5. This website page can then be shared, enabling users to play the interactive module online without downloading any files.

CARE4GUIDE VIDEOS: 

There are four videos, created as part of the Interactive Care4Guide, that can be shared or used within volunteer agencies to further support and promote positive mental health. 

The importance of positive mental health for young fire and emergency service volunteers

Mindfulness animation

Self-compassion animation

Coping skills animation

CARE4GUIDE POSTERS:

Care4Guide Title Page 

Welcome to Care4Guide

Mental Health and Wellbeing 

Protecting Your Mental Health 

Skill Spotlight 1: Mindfulness 

Skill Spotlight 2: Self Compassion 

Skill Spotlight 3: Coping 

Skill Spotlight 4: Checking In 

My Support Pathways

Mental Health Resources 

References and Acknowledgements 

CARE4GUIDE SOCIAL MEDIA ASSETS:

When sharing these assets on social media, please tag the CRC, AFAC, the University of Adelaide and the Hospital Research Foundation in your post.

Twitter: @bnhcrc @AFACnews @UniofAdelaide @hosp_research
Facebook and LinkedIn: Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, AFAC News, The University of Adelaide, The Hospital Research Foundation Group

Mental Health and Wellbeing: Mental Health Building Blocks 

Mental Health and Wellbeing: What is Mental Health? 

Protecting Mental Health: Role and Impact 

Skill Spotlight: Mindfulness - Body Scan

Skill Spotlight: Mindfulness - Everday Mindfulness

Skill Spotlight: Mindfulness - More Than Breathing

Skill Spotlight: Mindfulness - Square Breathing

Skill Spotlight: Self Compassion - Caring for Yourself 

Skill Spotlight: Self Compassion - Self Compassion Check

Skill Spotlight: Self Compassion - Three Components

Skill Spotlight: Coping - Confront, Connect, Communicate

Skill Spotlight: Coping - Engaged and Disengaged Coping

Skill Spotlight: Checking In - Signs Checklist

Skill Spotlight: Checking In - Signs to Seek Support

Skill Spotlight: Checking In - Stress Check Pit Stop 

Mental Health Resources: Apps and Interactive Health

Mental Health Resources: For Families and Friends

Mental Health Resources: Support Lines and Websites 

My Support Pathways: Identifying Pathways

FACT SHEETS:

Knowledge Synthesis 

Key Findings of Online Survey

Leadership Perspectives

Young Volunteer Perspectives