Unique to emergency services is the routine exposure to high-risk situations and potentially traumatic events. Such exposure creates a significant organisational responsibility and a legal duty of care to champion employee mental health. Despite the extensive body of leadership literature and the growing research on mental health, well-being, and posttraumatic growth (PTG), limited attention has been given to the impact of specific leadership characteristics within an emergency services context.
To address this gap, 48 semi-structured interviews were conducted with paramedics and emergency medical dispatchers to investigate the nature of leadership and mental health from both leader and follower perspectives. Reflexive thematic analysis was employed to achieve a rich, in-depth understanding of leadership and mental health (from a salutogenic orientation) among ambulance personnel. The findings highlight the crucial role of leaders in promoting mental health. From the data, a theoretical model—Trauma-Informed Leadership—was developed, encompassing three overarching themes: Professional Credibility Matters, Psychologically Safe Connections, and Meaningful Support. This research confirms that leaders play a vital role in fostering psychologically safe relationships, aligning with the PTG concept of the expert companion by supporting followers in feeling heard and valued, while also creating opportunities for sense-making. An expert companion has a humanistic orientation and is well-positioned to demonstrate humility and respect for another’s lived experience. A deeper connection of mutual trust is established when there is a shared lived experience of working within the realities of the job. This session will explore the process of PTG and the role of the expert companion in facilitating supportive conversations. Participants will engage in introspective, reflective activities and have opportunities to explore areas for development as expert companions.