Supporting our Emergency Service Workers and their Families
Behind The Seen is a not-for-profit organisation in New South Wales which works to support front-line emergency service personnel. They provide training sessions which focus on developing the individuals' ability to recognise the signs of mental health problems, and break down barriers to seeking appropriate help. In addition, they also provide mental health information packs for first responders in the front line.
Black Dog Ride has recently provided Behind The Seen with $10,000 in funding to help carry out this vitally important work to support emergency services personnel, and their families.
Behind The Seen state that:
the feedback has overwhelmingly stated that the session increased conversations around mental health with colleagues; reduced stigma: clarified organisational support systems; clarified community supports; explained stress and resilience in simple and entertaining ways, motivated positive help seeking behaviours and made families feel included, valued and capable as supports for their emergency services spouses, parents or siblings.
Their training programs cover topics such as:
How do you recognise symptoms of stress in a mate?
He says he's okay, but I can tell he isn't - what should I do?
How do you prepare new recruits for incidents?
How do we overcome the old "toughen up" culture?
How do I deal with my own stresses?
How can we set up our own local support networks?
