The mental health and wellbeing of staff and members must be a key priority for all first responder organisations.

First responders are workers who first respond to emergency situations such as Fire, Police, Ambulance, Civil Defence and air rescue services. The work context and exposure to trauma can also be applied to other frontline workers such as Correction Officers and hospital emergency department staff

They are routinely exposed to a range of factors that can increase the risk of psychiological distress, including trauma, conflict, lack of control over their work or volunteer environment and unusual working hours. The cumulative trauma exposure experienced by first responders presents a unique challenge for organisations to manage.

While regular exposure to traumatic events is an unavoidable consequence of the first responder job, thia exposure needs to be recognised and managed well to avoid it becoming a risk factor for a range of mental health problems. There has been an increase in the numbers of first responder staff with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) who are on extended sick leave or leaving their jobs due to occupation related permanent disability as well as first responders dying by suicide.

There is a range of barriers that may prevent first responders asking for help when needed. These include stigma, embarrassment, lack of knowledge, uncertainty regarding treatment options or concerns regarding the impact seeking help may have on their career. Also identified as a significant barrier is lack of recognition by management and mpt having sufficient knowledge and skills to respond the Delays in seeking help can prolong suffering and make recovery more complicated.

This workshops will cover ways in which first responder organisations can seek to reduce barriers to help seeking, including stigma reduction initiatives, mental health education, peer support programs and management training. Managers, team leaders, chaplains and human resource staff all play a key role in assisting staff and members.

The workshop provides an overview of how first responder organisations can be instrumental in reducing the risk of mental disorders and suicide as well as promoting wellbeing and resilience in their staff. It equips participants with an understanding of trauma related depression and suicide and how to recognise and respond to individuals experiencing mental health difficulties. Participants will examine the particular challenges of suicide in first responders and what the evidence suggests are best practice in supporting staff experiencing severe psychological distress.

With the government identifying wellbeing and mental health as priorities, the workshop will outline the key determinants of staff wellbeing for first responders and the policies, programmes and systems the facilitate mentally well workplaces.

Topics covered:

Overview of the phenomenon of suicide and the "suicide moment"
Applying a wellbeing framework to suicide prevention initiatives
Sad Misery and Depression - Identifying the difference
Being strong - Attitudes to mental health and help seeking in male dominant work cultures
Past childhood trauma and exposure to work related trauma
Creating supportive environment for staff
Support and debrieifing strategies when a staff member suicides

Online workshop delivery
The online workshop format for TaylorMade workshops is delivered via Zoom in modules. A one day in-person workshop is usually delivered online in either two or three modules which are held weekly. The length of each module is 3 hours.

This workshop will be delivered on Thursdays 12,19 & 26 October 2023 - 1.00pm to 4.00pm.

Pre-requisite online workshop:
There is also one core module on which the content of all the other suicide prevention workshops are built on. It focuses on our understanding of the phenomenon of suicide and the suicidal moment and making sense of why people want to end their lives. It also provides an opportunity for participants to reflect on their practice in engaging with suicidal people using the four C’s of suicide prevention - Comfortable, Confident, Competent and Compassionate.

All online participants should enrol in this workshop prior to registering for any other online TaylorMade workshop.

Call to Action: What can be done to prevent suicide is being delivered four times in 2023: 27 July, 19 October.

Exemption: Participants who have attended previous TaylorMade workshops in other years do not have to register for the core module.

Listen here for a fuller description of the online delivery format and the modular design

HEAR FROM AWARD WINNING & INTERNATIONALLY RESPECTED SUICIDE PREVENTION SPECIALIST - BARRY TAYLOR

Barry has worked in mental wellbeing promotion and suicide prevention/postvention for 35 years at the local, national and international levels. His extensive experience includes sitting on state and national government advisory committees; designing, implementing and evaluating suicide prevention programs; writing suicide prevention guidelines, training packages and community resources; providing technical advice to community based and national mental wellbeing and suicide prevention programs.

He has led multiple ‘firsts’ in the context of suicide prevention and postvention both in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to mental wellbeing and suicide prevention, he was awarded in 2016 the NSW Mental Health Commissioner's Community Champion Award. He currently sits on the Health and Disability Ethics Committee.

A pioneer in suicide risk assessment training in this country, Barry's insights are informed by a comprehensive and critical understanding of the research and latest thinking in both the national and international suicide prevention sector.

Drawing also on his extensive experience in engaging, assessing and supporting suicidal people from different cultures, age groups, genders and sexualities, he offers practical and time proven approaches to undertaking an effective assessment. He is known for his expertise and experience in working with suicidal men and effective strategies to promote male wellbeing. He is regularly asked to sit on international panels for Movember.

As a health sociologist, Barry offers an unique insight into the evolving phenomenon of suicide in the New Zealand context and the critical social and cultural determinants that have influenced it, insights that very few others trainers or training programs in this country provide. The workshop is enriched by the learnings from Barry's own lived experience of depression and suicidality and his pathway to recovery.

After a number of years overseas, Barry is living back in New Zealand and is passionate about building the knowledge base, competence and capability within our country to effectively respond to the unacceptably high rate of suicide in this country.

WORKSHOP DETAILS

WORKSHOP PLACES ARE LIMITED. REGISTER EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT
Places in the workshop are limited. If the workshop is full please register your name on the waitlist

Group Booking Discount: Book 3 or more participants in one booking and receive 30% discount off each registration

Payment: Payment is by either:
Credit Card (Visa or Mastercard) or
Instalment payment (ZIP and Afterpay)
Invoice - Organisations can request to pay by invoice. At payment method click on Invoice,

Terms for Payment By Invoice
Payment by Invoice is only for NGOs, Government Departments, Te Whatu Ora, PHOs, Schools and tertiary organisations, businesses.

By selecting to pay by invoice the organisation agrees to the following conditions:

1. Your place in the workshop is not confirmed until payment has been received. Payment of the invoice must be made within seven days of registering to avoid having your registration cancelled. Late payment fees apply.

2. A Tax Invoice from TaylorMade Training and Consulting will be sent to you separately which will contain bank details for payment.

3. By registering for the workshop, you agree to the cancellation and policy. (refer below). Organisations who cancel within seven days of the workshop and have not paid the invoice for the outstanding registration fee are still obligated to pay the outstanding debt.

Cancellation and Refund Policy
Workshops can fill quickly. If you are no longer able to attend the workshop please cancel your registration as soon as possible. The following refund policy is strictly adhered to.

Cancellation up to seven days prior to the commencement of the workshop: Full Refund less $40+GST admin fee

Cancellation within seven days prior to the commencement of the workshop: No refund but registration can be transferred to another person. To transfer your registration log on to your registration and update the name and contact details to the new person attending.

Non attendance: No refund

Disclaimer: The information and professional advice delivered in the workshop and the associated printed material is provided solely on the basis that before relying on this material, participants should obtain appropriate advice relevant to their particular circumstance to evaluate its accuracy, currency, completeness and relevance for their purposes. TaylorMade Training and Consulting will not be liable for any damages of any kind to any person or entity arising from the use of this information. Your attendance at this workshop reflects your acceptance of this statement.

Organiser Contact Details

Barry Taylor
Principal Consultant | TaylorMade Training and Consulting
Office: 04 280 0146 Mobile: 022 397 9294
Email: registration@4wellbeing.nz Website: www.4wellbeing.nz