Firefighters utilising support services more in Southern region

Friday, 14 September 2018

Southland assistant area commander Deane Chalmers believes it is important for volunteer and career firefighters to talk about mental health and seek support if needed.

An increase in the distressing type of work firefighters do and a change in the 'harden up' attitude has led to more southern firefighters seeking counselling and psychological support.

The number of fire service staff in Southern brigades, from Waitaki River south, using support services increased from three in 2012, to 68 in 2017.

There are about 100 rural and urban brigades in the region.

Southland assistant area commander Deane Chalmers believes it is important for volunteer and career firefighters to talk about mental health and seek support if needed.

In the first three months of this year, 49 Fire and Emergency New Zealand staff in the area sought out counselling and psychological support.

Southland area commander Julian Tohiariki said numbers increased both because of more distressing work, including firefighters attending motor vehicle crashes and an increasing numbers of medical callouts, often as first responders.

Also, attitudes towards seeking help were changing, Tohiariki said.

The increasing number of people using the services were in line with what he was seeing in the workforce.

'I'd like the numbers to increase because it means people are using the systems.'

In the past, firefighters either did not know they needed help or felt they could not ask for help.

'For a good five years, as an organisation and leaders in Southland, we've changed that perception.'

Services ranged from peer support to sessions with a trained psychologist, and were not only for work-related stress, but also personal, he said.

Southland assistant area commander Deane Chalmers said three suicides of staff in the Otago Southland region (in Invercargill in October last year, in Dunedin in November last year, and in Clyde in May) were a wake up call for crews.

It was not known if the reasons for suicide were work or personal.

'They affected the brigade … no-one is immune to it. There is a positive culture here [at Invercargill Fire Station] but it is okay to ask for help.'

Those who died will have a legacy that would continue through conversations about mental health and wellbeing, Chalmers said.

'We're upskilling our people to recognise signs and symptoms.

'This brigade here is very close. The conversations tend to be like family.'

Attitudes towards dealing with stress or distress had changed from when Chalmers joined the service in 1996.

'The stoic attitude of 'harden up, take a teaspoon of concrete', is detrimental to mental health. We're working hard to break those barriers down.'

It was often partners or other family members who recognised when a crew member was not acting themselves, Chalmers said.

Fire and Emergency NZ chief executive's office director Leigh Deuchars said the nature of the work meant staff encountered a wide range of risks to their physical safety and psychological wellbeing.

He was pleased staff and their families were accessing the support available.

Since the establishment of Fire and Emergency NZ in July last year, confidential counselling and support services were opened up to all staff and their immediate families at no cost to them.

The services can be accessed for both work-related and non-work-related issues.

WHERE TO GET HELP

Lifeline (open 24/7) - 0800 543 354

Depression Helpline (open 24/7) - 0800 111 757

Healthline (open 24/7) - 0800 611 116

Samaritans (open 24/7) - 0800 726 666

Suicide Crisis Helpline (open 24/7) - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.

Youthline (open 24/7) - 0800 376 633. You can also text 234 for free between 8am and midnight, or email talk @youthline.co.nz

0800 WHATSUP children's helpline - phone 0800 9428 787 between 1pm and 10pm on weekdays and from 3pm to 10pm on weekends. Online chat is available from 7pm to 10pm every day at www.whatsup.co.nz.

Kidsline (open 24/7) - 0800 543 754. This service is for children aged 5 to 18. Those who ring between 4pm and 9pm on weekdays will speak to a Kidsline buddy. These are specially trained teenage telephone counsellors.

Your local Rural Support Trust - 0800 787 254 (0800 RURAL HELP)

Alcohol Drug Helpline (open 24/7) - 0800 787 797. You can also text 8691 for free.

For further information, contact the Mental Health Foundation's free Resource and Information Service (09 623 4812).