Preventing psychological harm in first responder organisations.
Project status: Complete
Are first responders equipped to handle the psychological harm that comes with the job?
In Australia 140,300 full-time first responders - Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Police, Ambulance, and Fire - work at the borderline of life and death, in high-risk environments and situations. While various multi-disciplinary wellbeing teams offer mental health interventions, a worrying 9.9% of workers' compensation claims for mental disorders in Australia come from first responders. This persistent high rate suggests existing interventions are falling short.
Research on moral suffering in the military highlights the importance of religious and spiritual themes in healing. This dimension is often absent in the standard biopsychosocial (BPSS) framework, which can limit its effectiveness in addressing complex psychological injuries arising from both traumatic events and organizational stressors. Recognizing this gap, the need for a BPSS framework that integrates spiritual considerations becomes clear, especially for first responders who face similar moral dilemmas and workplace hardships.
Development of a bio-psycho-social-spiritual (BPSS) model
The Centre partnered with a Charles Sturt University to develop a framework to prevent psychological harms in first responder organisations.
The research involved:
- Quantitative studies: Gathering data directly from first responders through surveys and analysis.
- Deep diving into lived experiences: Exploring 21 Australian first responder autobiographies and interviewing their authors.
- Critical reflection through practical theology: Illuminating the data, questioning existing approaches, and proposing alternative solutions.
The study has resulted in the development of a biopsychosocial-spiritual (BPSS) framework. By integrating spiritual aspects into the traditional biopsychosocial model, the BPSS framework goes beyond managing trauma. It directly addresses moral injury, a deep psychological wound inflicted by betrayal from authorities in high-stakes situations.
Read the Industry Summary here.
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