ER SE TE RVI CE VOLUN
S
EN STAT MERG EE
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AS SO CIATION
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SUPPORTING THE MENTAL HEALTH OF YOUNG ADULT VOLUNTEERS NEW RESEARCH HAS DEVELOPED A PACKAGE OF RESOURCES THAT PROVIDE A PRACTICAL AND EVIDENCE-BASED STARTING POINT FOR SUPPORTING POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING IN YOUNG ADULT FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICE VOLUNTEERS.
16 PHOENIX
August 2021
T
hese mental health and wellbeing resources were developed as part of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC’s Tactical Research Fund program. They were designed to support the positive mental health and wellbeing of young adult volunteers by improving mental health literacy and establishing stronger support networks within fire and emergency service agencies. The research project, Positive mental health in young adult emergency services personnel, was led by Dr Amanda Taylor at the University of Adelaide and was a partnership with Flinders University, the University of Western Australia, the University of British Columbia in Canada, the Hospital Research Foundation, AFAC, Military and Emergency Services Health Australia (MESHA), several key emergency service agencies and the young adult members of the project’s Young Volunteers Advisory Committee. “This study is the first in Australia to focus specifically on the mental health needs of young adult fire and emergency service volunteers aged 16 to 25,” said Dr Taylor. vicsesva.org.au
