Gallagher Bassett has sponsored the 2nd Annual Mental Health Strategies for First Responders national conference.

The event brought together mental health experts and first responders to discuss how to continue to improve mental health programs, with a focus on preventive approaches to build resilience while driving an organisation-wide cultural change.

Martin Braid, assistant chief fire officer for community resilience at Metropolitan Fire Brigade; Deirdre Francis, manager for WorkCover and injury management at Victoria Police; and Dean Pattison, manager for workers' compensation and injury management at Ambulance Victoria.

GB hosted a panel discussion at the event with Martin Braid, assistant chief fire officer for community resilience at Metropolitan Fire Brigade; Deirdre Francis, manager for WorkCover and injury management at Victoria Police; and Dean Pattison, manager for workers' compensation and injury management at Ambulance Victoria.

The event also featured workshops, where participants were taught how to provide support to large groups after a critical incident, how to have mentally healthy conversations in the workplace, and how to achieve an organisational-wide cultural change.

“As first responders are routinely exposed to higher levels of trauma, this can result in higher levels of stress,” GB said in its blog. “In order to reduce the risk of mental illness, strategies to increase awareness and build resilience must be implemented. Tackling the prevalent stigma that surrounds mental health for first responders will require a significant cultural change across the sector.”