Organisational Support and Mental Health in Fire and Emergency Services: Insights from the Whanaungatanga Programme
Tracks
Prince and Virtual via OnAIR
| Tuesday, March 4, 2025 |
| 1:25 PM - 1:45 PM |
| Prince Room |
Overview
Professor Grant Schofield and Dr Lisa MacKay, Auckland University of Technology
Presenter
Dr Lisa Mackay
Head of Department Physical Activity and Nutrition
Auckland University of Technology
Organisational Support and Mental Health in Fire and Emergency Services: Insights from the Whanaungatanga Programme
Presentation Overview
This presentation will explore the results of the 2023 baseline nationwide census survey on the mental health of New Zealand fire and emergency personnel (n = 1736), with a focus on uniformed firefighters, managers, communication centre staff, and other uniformed workers. With a response rate exceeding 70% for uniformed firefighters, this survey ranks among the most comprehensive globally, offering robust evidence on the prevalence of mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The analysis examines how these outcomes are influenced by factors like length of service, role type, and levels of organisational support.
A central feature of this study is the multi-level investigation into perceived organisational support at the peer, manager, and organisational levels, along with the perceived competence, accountability, and integrity of the organisation. These aspects are explored in relation to varying degrees of exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs), providing a robust understanding of how organisational culture influences mental health in frontline workers.
This presentation will complement Josh Darby's keynote on the broader Whanaungatanga Programme by sharing key evidence from the survey that inform the programme's ongoing evaluation. It will also offer a brief overview of early evaluation findings from the 2024 survey, including both quantitative survey results and sentiment analysis of open-text responses, highlighting the Programme's impact in pilot and control regions.
Presentation Key Learnings:
1. The prevalence and factors associated with mental ill health among fire and emergency services.
2. The impact of organisational support on mental health outcomes.
3. Early insights into the effectiveness of the Whanaungatanga Programme.
A central feature of this study is the multi-level investigation into perceived organisational support at the peer, manager, and organisational levels, along with the perceived competence, accountability, and integrity of the organisation. These aspects are explored in relation to varying degrees of exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs), providing a robust understanding of how organisational culture influences mental health in frontline workers.
This presentation will complement Josh Darby's keynote on the broader Whanaungatanga Programme by sharing key evidence from the survey that inform the programme's ongoing evaluation. It will also offer a brief overview of early evaluation findings from the 2024 survey, including both quantitative survey results and sentiment analysis of open-text responses, highlighting the Programme's impact in pilot and control regions.
Presentation Key Learnings:
1. The prevalence and factors associated with mental ill health among fire and emergency services.
2. The impact of organisational support on mental health outcomes.
3. Early insights into the effectiveness of the Whanaungatanga Programme.
Biography
Dr Lisa Mackay is a population health epidemiologist at Auckland University of Technology, where she focuses on how job demands affect health and wellbeing. She has led large-scale population surveys and research projects aimed at understanding how work-related factors impact both positive and negative health outcomes.
Professor Grant Schofield
Professor of Public Health
Auckland University of Technology
Organisational Support and Mental Health in Fire and Emergency Services: Insights from the Whanaungatanga Programme
Presentation Overview
This presentation will explore the results of the 2023 baseline nationwide census survey on the mental health of New Zealand fire and emergency personnel (n = 1736), with a focus on uniformed firefighters, managers, communication centre staff, and other uniformed workers. With a response rate exceeding 70% for uniformed firefighters, this survey ranks among the most comprehensive globally, offering robust evidence on the prevalence of mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The analysis examines how these outcomes are influenced by factors like length of service, role type, and levels of organisational support.
A central feature of this study is the multi-level investigation into perceived organisational support at the peer, manager, and organisational levels, along with the perceived competence, accountability, and integrity of the organisation. These aspects are explored in relation to varying degrees of exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs), providing a robust understanding of how organisational culture influences mental health in frontline workers.
This presentation will complement Josh Darby's keynote on the broader Whanaungatanga Programme by sharing key evidence from the survey that inform the programme's ongoing evaluation. It will also offer a brief overview of early evaluation findings from the 2024 survey, including both quantitative survey results and sentiment analysis of open-text responses, highlighting the Programme's impact in pilot and control regions.
Presentation Key Learnings:
1, The prevalence and factors associated with mental ill health among fire and emergency services.
2. The impact of organisational support on mental health outcomes.
3. Early insights into the effectiveness of the Whanaungatanga Programme.
A central feature of this study is the multi-level investigation into perceived organisational support at the peer, manager, and organisational levels, along with the perceived competence, accountability, and integrity of the organisation. These aspects are explored in relation to varying degrees of exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs), providing a robust understanding of how organisational culture influences mental health in frontline workers.
This presentation will complement Josh Darby's keynote on the broader Whanaungatanga Programme by sharing key evidence from the survey that inform the programme's ongoing evaluation. It will also offer a brief overview of early evaluation findings from the 2024 survey, including both quantitative survey results and sentiment analysis of open-text responses, highlighting the Programme's impact in pilot and control regions.
Presentation Key Learnings:
1, The prevalence and factors associated with mental ill health among fire and emergency services.
2. The impact of organisational support on mental health outcomes.
3. Early insights into the effectiveness of the Whanaungatanga Programme.
Biography
Grant Schofield is the Professor of Public Health at Auckland University of Technology, Director of the University’s Human Potential Centre, former Chief Scientific Adviser to the Ministry of Education in New Zealand, co-author of four best-selling books and Chief Science Officer for PREKURE. Grant’s career has focused on preventing the diseases of modern times, and understanding what it takes to help people live a long, healthy and happy life. With a PhD in psychology, and a career spanning across several scientific disciplines from human physiology, behaviour, and psychology, his emphasis is on peak performance and what it takes to lead a live a long, healthy and happy life.
Moderator
Rachel Dempster
Program & Research Manager
Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association
Shinade Hartman
Virtual Manager
AST Management
Lise Saunders
Conference Coordinator / Virtual Manager
AST Management
Justine White
Event Manager
AST Management
