Doctorate
Doctorate Title: Codesigning, implementing and evaluating a psychological first aid programme for family members and friends of first responders.
Doctorate Description: By nature of their service to the public, first responders regularly encounter potentially traumatic incidents. Psychosocial support services (including pre-incident stress awareness training), are not standardised in Ireland and are sometimes not accessible following repeated traumatic exposure. Variations in both training and support services arise due to geographical location and type of service, i.e. rural/urban area, statutory or volunteer-based service, full or part-time basis, etc. Organisational stressors also contribute to poor mental health in first responders. Feeling undervalued and unheard are some of the most common complaints in these professions, as well as interpersonal conflict and feeling overworked. Evidence suggests that social support is powerful in mitigating this stress, with colleagues, family members, and close friends providing such support on an informal basis.
This research aims to clarify first responder psychosocial support needs and then enhance the psychosocial support services available to first responders and their families in Ireland, through a co-created educational intervention. We will explore the barriers to help-seeking and promote additional pathways to psychosocial support for first responders following difficult incidents at work. This will lead to co-designing an educational intervention through community based participatory research (CBPR), which will be piloted and evaluated in a simulated environment. Developing a second responder community of practice, through consultation with relevant stakeholders, will likely assist in informing policy change and educational standards on a national level, while simultaneously increasing wellbeing and perceived support at the family level.
Details:
Type: PhD
University: Monash University
Primary Supervisor: Dr Alan Batt
Category: Mental Health
Funding: Movember Veterans and First Responders Mental Health fund
Start Date: 2022
End Date: 2027
Status: Ongoing
Thesis
Awaiting
