Emergency service professionals who deal with stressful life and death situations may have had a head start over those in financial services assisting with mental health and well-being.
That’s part of the reason why Boris Divis, with the assistance of the WAYFP, came up with a checklist for FINSIA members as an extra resource to coincide with R U OK? Day and the eve of the fire season.
As a part of his local Volunteer Fire Emergency Service (VFES) brigade for over three years, Boris has seen the impact trauma can have on mental health and has recently undergone the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to assist in identifying and treating potential mental health issues before they adversely impact someone.
“Being a volunteer firefighter, we’ve had R U OK? Days where people - from the military, within our brigade and police have openly spoken about PTSD and depression” he said.
But he is the first to admit that he was shocked how little he…