Like checking your equipment before a shift, a mental health plan helps you prepare before you need it.
Ready: to Respond is a practical tool designed specifically for emergency service workers and volunteers. It helps you recognise changes early, identify what keeps you well, and know what to do before things become harder to manage.
Use the template to:
You don’t need to wait until you’re struggling to think about your mental health.
Taking some time when you’re feeling well to recognise what affects you, what helps and who you can turn to can make it easier to act when things change.
Emergency service work can expose you to challenging situations, but work isn’t the only thing that can affect your mental health. Stress at home, relationships, financial pressures, poor sleep or other life circumstances can add up too.
Think about the situations, experiences or pressures that tend to affect you. Knowing your own risk factors can help you recognise when you might need to pay more attention to your wellbeing.
Changes in your mental health aren’t always obvious at first. You might notice you’re sleeping differently, becoming more irritable, withdrawing from people, replaying jobs in your mind or finding it harder to switch off.
Think about what changes for you when you’re not doing as well as usual. Recognising these signs early can help you take action sooner.
The things that support your mental health don’t have to be complicated. Sleep, exercise, eating well, relaxation and making time for things you enjoy can all play a part.
Think about what helps you recharge or feel more like yourself. It might be getting outside, training, cooking, reading, spending time with family or mates, or simply having some time to yourself.
It’s easier to think about who you can turn to before you’re having a difficult time. Your support network might include friends, family, colleagues, a peer supporter or someone else you trust.
Consider letting these people know they’re part of your plan. Having that conversation while you’re well can make reaching out easier when you need to.
Sometimes your usual strategies and support network will be enough. At other times, you may need some extra help.
Think ahead about what would tell you it’s time to seek professional support and where you’ll go. This might be your GP, a psychologist, your workplace wellbeing service or Responder Assist.
Things change. The challenges you face, the strategies that work for you and the people you turn to for support may look different over time.
Reviewing your plan every so often helps make sure it still reflects what you need and what works for you.
1. Check in regularly
Revisit your plan every few months, or whenever something changes at work or in your life.
2. Notice what’s changed
Your warning signs, stressors and what helps you cope can change over time. Update your plan, so it still reflects what works for you.
3. Keep it somewhere handy
Save your plan somewhere easy to find, and consider sharing it with someone you trust so they know how to support you if things get tough.
Our intake team can help. Many people contact the clinic simply wanting to understand what support options are available.
You can either call the clinic or submit your details via the form below.
Call 1800 329 191
9am–5pm Monday to Friday (excl. public holidays)
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