Treating Frontline Workers With PTSD: an Update on What Works and What the Future Holds
Tracks
Monarch - In-Person Only
| Tuesday, March 4, 2025 |
| 1:25 PM - 1:45 PM |
| Monarch Room |
Overview
Professor Samuel Harvey, Black Dog Institute
Presenter
Professor Samuel Harvey
Executive Director and Chief Scientist
Black Dog Institute
Treating Frontline Workers with PTSD: an Update on What Works and What the Future Holds
Presentation Overview
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the key mental health issues impacting frontline workers. It is estimated that one in ten frontline workers are experiencing PTSD, but many of these individuals do not receive best practice, evidence-based care.
In 2017, together with Prof Richard Bryant, I wrote the world's first evidence-based guidelines for how PTSD should be diagnosed and treated in frontline workers. In the seven years since the publication of these guidelines we have made substantial gains in our understanding about how to aid the recovery of those with PTSD. Crucially, we have also gained key insights into how PTSD presents differently amongst emergency service workers and how, as a result, treatment approaches need to be modified for this group. Through our work with the National Emergency Worker Support Service (NEWSS) we have demonstrated that this type of modified treatment for frontline workers is feasible and can generate response rates of over 75%.
In this talk I will describe the key findings from the newly undated guidelines on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Emergency Service Workers. These guidelines, which remain a world-first, have now been endorsed by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
In addition to describing what best practice treatment for PTSD should include, particular focus will be given to how these treatment programs should be modified when treating frontline workers. I will also outline some exciting new emerging treatments for PTSD, including psychedelic assisted psychotherapy and digital mental health interventions.
Presentation Key Learnings:
1. How PTSD can present in frontline workers
2. What is best practice treatment for PTSD in frontline workers
3. Insights into new emerging treatments
In 2017, together with Prof Richard Bryant, I wrote the world's first evidence-based guidelines for how PTSD should be diagnosed and treated in frontline workers. In the seven years since the publication of these guidelines we have made substantial gains in our understanding about how to aid the recovery of those with PTSD. Crucially, we have also gained key insights into how PTSD presents differently amongst emergency service workers and how, as a result, treatment approaches need to be modified for this group. Through our work with the National Emergency Worker Support Service (NEWSS) we have demonstrated that this type of modified treatment for frontline workers is feasible and can generate response rates of over 75%.
In this talk I will describe the key findings from the newly undated guidelines on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Emergency Service Workers. These guidelines, which remain a world-first, have now been endorsed by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
In addition to describing what best practice treatment for PTSD should include, particular focus will be given to how these treatment programs should be modified when treating frontline workers. I will also outline some exciting new emerging treatments for PTSD, including psychedelic assisted psychotherapy and digital mental health interventions.
Presentation Key Learnings:
1. How PTSD can present in frontline workers
2. What is best practice treatment for PTSD in frontline workers
3. Insights into new emerging treatments
Biography
Prof Harvey is a leading academic psychiatrist and is the Executive Director of the Black Dog Institute. He leads Australia's largest program of research into the mental health of frontline workers and is the co-director of Australia's national mental health service for emergency service workers.
