Answering the call: national survey: Beyond Blue's National Mental Health and Wellbeing Study of Police and Emergency Services - Final report

Over recent years, police and emergency services agencies have noticeably increased activities to support the mental health and wellbeing of their employees and volunteers. Agencies are working hard to promote mental health and wellbeing, address risk factors and provide appropriate mental health supports to those who need them. Although there is extensive anecdotal evidence that police and emergency services personnel are at greater risk of experiencing a mental health condition, until now, a comprehensive national data set has not existed. The absence of national data has created challenges in understanding the true extent of mental health issues in the sector. This has curtailed somewhat the basis for advocacy, for genuine reform and change. That barrier ends now. Answering the call is the first national survey of the mental health and wellbeing of personnel in Australian police and emergency services. Overall, 21,014 people took part. For the first time we have a detailed and accurate picture of mental health issues affecting our police and emergency
services personnel.