Fortem Australia is an organisation we have featured from time to time in the Yass Phoenix. Its role is to support first responders and their families by promoting mental fitness and family resilience, and providing clinical support, post-service career and transition opportunities.
Fortem is urging the partners of first responders with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to reach out to its support services, as research from New Zealand has found 20 per cent of partners of first responders can also experience their own PTSD-like symptoms in relation to the trauma experienced by a loved-one. Partners may experience symptoms like anxiety, sleep disturbances, concern about a partner’s safety, and mood swings due to what is called “secondary traumatic stress”.
With over 360,000 paid and volunteer first responders in the Australian community, and a recent history of natural disasters complicated by a global pandemic, Fortem Australia says there are many households dealing with the emotional ripple effect of PTSD.
In the week marking PTSD Awareness Day (June 22nd), Fortem Australia CEO John Bale is eager to see more specific data collected on the effects that the disorder can have on the families of first responders.
“I find it really concerning that 50 per cent of partners of first responders felt they didn’t have someone to turn to for emotional support when they themselves were stressed or worried,” says Mr. Bale.
He said partners may feel pressure to keep things ‘normal’ and hold things together for the family, adding that “most are left to take on the bulk of parenting and household chores.”
“What we do know is that more resources need to be extended to help partners manage their own stress levels, and Fortem Australia has a range of programs offering strategies and support for building resilience. If we can help parents as well, we can also protect against the intergenerational impact of these high-stress occupations”.
You may be interested to learn that since starting in 2019, Fortem has supported over 6,500 first responders and their families through science-backed social connection activities, clinical services, and transition programs. There has been a total of 17,672 registrations for activities, with many more on waitlists demonstrating appetite and genuine need.
You can learn more about Fortem by visiting their website: www.FortemAustralia.org.au
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