Ready: to Respond

Emergency worker mental health planning

Are you ready to respond to a critical mental health incident? As an emergency services worker trauma can be part of your everyday – but did you know that this comes with a significant risk of impact to your mental health? The good news is that there are ways to prepare and help manage this risk. Whether you’re planning for the future, or you need help now, recovery is always possible.

If you’re ready to get started, download our template to guide your mental health plan. If Responder Assist is part of your plan, you can contact us now here, or on: 1800 329 191 during office hours.

Ready to respond to a crisis

Are you Ready to Respond? What would you do if you faced a mental health crisis? Hear from Deputy Director and Victoria Police veteran Tim Peck on the risks of emergency services work, and how you can plan for mental health impacts.

Ready: to Respond Emergency Worker Mental Health Plan template

Wondering what a mental health plan might look like? Our template might help. Of course, you don’t have to write your plan down, if that’s not for you, but you may like to consider the key areas. Remember, no matter where you’re at, recovery is always possible.

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Your mental health plan

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1. What are the risks?

We need to accept that our work role may have a significant effect on our mental health. Maybe you have stressors in other parts of your life that impact your work or general wellbeing. The first step of a plan is identifying the factors that impact your mental health and make them visible. What stressors do you need to be mindful of?

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2. Plan when we are well

Maintaining social connections is a key part of managing your mental health. What friends or family members will you reach out to? Let these people know that they’re part of your plan and you may contact them in need – it is important to have these conversations when we are well, not wait until we are in crisis.

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3. Everyday attention

Sleeping, eating, relaxation and exercise are critical to mental health. Make it a priority to focus on the aspects of our plan we can control. What does a good nights’ sleep look like? What kinds of exercise will you do? What healthy meals will you prepare? As tempting as they are, try to reduce stimulants such as alcohol and caffeine.

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4. Work on your plan

Engaging in enjoyable activities can aid your recovery.
What makes you feel good? Do you like cooking, painting, reading or hiking? Consider planning some enjoyable activities to give yourself something to look forward to. Understand that these may change over time.

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5. How will you get help?

Sometimes simply managing your own symptoms, talking to friends, prioritising the basics and engaging in activities you love will allow you manage your own recovery. But other times you may need professional help. How will you know the difference? If you need professional help with your recovery, who will you call? Your agency may also be able to provide assistance reaching out to professional support.

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What does self-care look like?

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Self-care is a great way to support yourself and your mental health. It is a simple but effective way of maintaining and promoting a general sense of well-being.
Self-care will look different for different people but can be as simple as managing your sleep, undertaking some form of exercise each day, maintaining a healthy diet or spending time with those you love. Other activities include meditation, listening to music, gratitude journaling and learning something new.

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Making time to spend with people you love is another form of self-care. Staying connected is an important part of the recovery process.
Remember, it is important to choose self-care activities that fit with your lifestyle and that have a positive impact on your wellbeing

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Bear in mind that a self-care strategy can be effective in helping maintain your wellbeing, but it is not a substitute for evidence-based mental health treatment. For more information on treatments, contact our assessment hotline on: 1800 329 191 during office hours.
And remember to be compassionate with yourself. It’s okay not to be okay and it is quite normal to feel like sometimes we are coping better than at other times. Sometimes we need extra support or to recharge, and that is okay.

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4. Work on your plan

Engaging in enjoyable activities can aid your recovery.
What makes you feel good? Do you like cooking, painting, reading or hiking? Consider planning some enjoyable activities to give yourself something to look forward to. Understand that these may change over time.

SWIPE THROUGH
TO FIND OUT MORE

5. How will you get help?

Sometimes simply managing your own symptoms, talking to friends, prioritising the basics and engaging in activities you love will allow you manage your own recovery. But other times you may need professional help. How will you know the difference? If you need professional help with your recovery, who will you call? Your agency may also be able to provide assistance reaching out to professional support.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a WorkCover claim to access treatment through Responder Assist?

No. A WorkCover claim is encouraged to ensure that gap-free treatment is funded throughout your treatment under Responder Assist. However, this is not the only way to fund your care. Medicare referrals with a current and valid Mental Health Care Plan from your GP can also be used to help co-fund your treatment. However, it should be noted that there is a limit to the rebated sessions (10 per calendar year) and that there is a gap per session charged which will be charged to you by your treating clinician. Finally, you can also elect to pay for the full cost of your treatment as an out-of-pocket expense.

Can I see a psychiatrist as part of Responder Assist?

Yes. If you or your treating clinician think that seeing a psychiatrist would be of service, the intake team can help you to arrange a referral.

How long will it take for me to be allocated to a clinician after intake?

The Responder Assist team aim to allocate you for treatment as soon as possible. In periods of high demand for the service, there may be a short delay to the start of your treatment. The intake clinician will be able to advise you as to whether there is a wait time at the time of your initial assessment. If there is a wait, you will be placed on a waitlist until a suitable specialist clinician becomes available.

Is my intake call confidential?

Yes. Your intake call is completely confidential and will not be reported to your emergency services employer, EAP, or other associated party. However, please note that there are duty of care and legislative requirements for the intake team to liaise with your GP, other treaters, or mental health crisis services if they assess that you need immediate support.

What’s the difference between psychology and psychiatry?

The main difference between the two is that a psychiatrist has trained as a medical doctor and can prescribe medication. A psychologist is not a medical doctor and can’t prescribe medication.

Who is eligible to use the Responder Assist clinical services?

Current, working and retired emergency workers (including volunteers), who are based in Victoria. We are currently operating in a trial capacity, and services are open to emergency workers from both Victoria Police and SES Victoria. In time, clinical services will also expand to include emergency services workers from other eligible emergency services agencies.

To find out when your emergency services organization becomes eligible, sign up for updates here.

Will I need to complete questionnaires to access Responder Assist services?

Yes. In order to ensure the highest clinical standards we ask all members to complete regular questionnaires. The responses on the questionnaires will be seen by your treating clinician to optimise your treatment and will also be de-identified and collated in order to evaluate our service. By agreeing to have anonymised data collected as part of your engagement with Responder Assist you will be making an invaluable contribution to emergency worker mental health and helping us to deliver best-practice, evidence-based care to the emergency worker community.

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About

Responder Assist is funded by the Victorian Government to aid emergency services workers in improving their mental health and recovering from trauma. Responder Assist runs a clinical intake and advice service that is open to all Victorian emergency services workers, including those that have retired from service. We also offer training in the latest evidence-based treatments and provide expert advice to mental health practitioners who work with emergency services personnel.

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