Manage the risk of mental health impacts on operational personnel

Operational personnel need to be able to function, while being aware of how mental health problems, such as stress or trauma can result in physiological effects. Personnel need to communicate, make critical decisions and process information. They should be able to understand how mental health problems can affect these processes.

Fire and rescue services must do all they reasonably can to support their employees’ health, safety and wellbeing, with mental and physical health being treated as equally important.

Fire and rescue services should develop a culture, awareness and common understanding of mental health problems and have appropriate processes in place for during or following an incident. These should be supported by occupational health arrangements, such as identifying, reporting, monitoring and self-reporting measures and arrangements.

The impact of traumatic events on personnel can be minimised through raising awareness of the causes and potential effects of the pressure and stressors that may occur at incidents. Incident commanders should be aware of the short-term and long-term effects that traumatic events can have on themselves and others. For further information, refer to Incident command: Personal resilience.

Fire and rescue services should carry out strategic risk assessments to identify foreseeable traumatic events within their area and identify control measures that may eliminate or reduce their impact.

At the incident ground, it may be possible to reduce the impact of traumatic events on personnel by:

• Minimising the number of personnel exposed to the traumatic event
• Erecting screens to restrict the view of the traumatic event – for further information refer to Search, rescue and casualty care – Maintain the privacy and dignity of the casualty
• Seeking assistance from other appropriate agencies

Debriefing

Refer to Incident command – Hold debriefing or post incident reviews and the JESIP Joint Doctrine: The Interoperability Framework (section 11.2) for more information.

A traumatic event may affect operational personnel at any point in time. Following the debrief that will have occurred at the incident before personnel left, a more structured debrief should be held. Either of the debrief sessions may increase the mental health impacts or post-traumatic stress for some people. To support personnel during debriefs:

• Check with everyone involved that they feel able to discuss the events
• Allow personnel to talk through, process and gather their thoughts or recollections of a traumatic event
• Ensure sufficient time is allowed for personnel to raise any wellbeing issues they may be experiencing
• Offer alternative approaches for personnel to participate in the debriefing
• Actively monitor personnel for physical or verbal cues that may indicate they are suffering from mental health impacts; these may include:
  • Difficulties making decisions or concentrating
  • Being unable to remember things
  • Snapping at others
  • Biting nails, grinding teeth or clenching their jaw
  • Change in eating habits
  • Increase in smoking, vaping or drinking alcohol
  • Restlessness
  • Crying or being tearful
  • Change in exercise habits
  • Sleep problems
  • Withdrawing from interaction with people

Post-incident mental health wellbeing

Service wellbeing policies should be followed to ensure any personnel affected by the traumatic event receive the appropriate level of support. Considering welfare during debriefing, after an incident and in the following days may help to identify personnel who have been affected by a traumatic event.

It may be necessary to take a proactive approach, rather than waiting for personnel to raise wellbeing issues. It should be assumed that there will have been an impact on them, and instead allow personnel to opt out if support is not required.

Fire and rescue services should have wellbeing policies in place, for the physical and mental health of all their employees. Policies should include details about how they will provide support and training for line managers to enable them to identify and support employees suffering from mental health impacts following a traumatic event.

For an example of a wellbeing policy, refer to the NFCC Model Wellbeing Policy.

Support for legal proceedings

Due to the nature of a traumatic event, personnel may require support for legal proceedings, public inquiries or coroner inquests. For further information refer to Corporate guidance for operational activity – Legal proceedings.