Emergency Service Workers

I am passionate about supporting those that serve us.

I am familiar with each of the primary first responder organisations in NSW (NSWPF, ANSW, FRNSW), the cultures and the challenges that workers face both operationally and working within the organisations. I am also familiar with the insurers and the processes involved, whether that be assisting an injured worker to make a safe and successful return to operational duties or supporting them through a medical discharge and life beyond the uniform.

The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among emergency service workers is more than twice that in the general population, yet diagnosis is often delayed.

GPs can ensure patients with PTSD receive best-practice clinical care by being aware of how they can present, knowing how to enquire about symptoms, and better identifying those who have been exposed to trauma as well as following new expert guidelines.

Key Points

  • One in 10 currently active emergency service workers will have symptoms suggestive of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Rates may be even higher among retired workers.

  • An emergency worker with PTSD may present with typical symptoms or other related problems, such as anger, relationship problems, sleep difficulty, substance abuse or a more general mental health crisis.

  • Repeated nonspecific presentations by current or former emergency service workers should raise suspicion of PTSD and prompt questions about trauma exposure.

  • Use of appropriate screening tools can increase the likelihood of PTSD being recognised.

  • It is often beneficial to obtain a second opinion from a mental health professional who has experience in managing emergency service workers or military personnel.

  • Gold-standard treatment is one of the trauma-focused psychological treatments such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy or eye-movement desensitisation and reprocessing.

  • Australian guidelines outline circumstances in which medication should be considered as a treatment option for an emergency service worker with PTSD.

  • Awareness of the increased risk of suicide associated with PTSD, especially among emergency service workers, is crucial.

“Finding the ‘right’ people to help you through the recovery process is crucial. It’s important that your GP is familiar with the Worker’s Compensation process and so too for your psychologist.”

If you are not quite sure what to do next, I can help.