Just back from the fire station, tonight we had a visit from the chaplain about the wellness branch of DFES. If you are at a critical incident, they will contact you and make sure that you get assistance to work through what you’ve experienced. As it happens, most emergency service personnel handle the trauma ok unless there is something else going on in their life that’s eating away at them. That’s when they deteriorate.

DFES funds 6 free visits to a mental health councilor/psychologist of your choice, with the potential for 4 more. Your trauma does not necessarily have to be anything to do with the emergency services, if you have a problem at home or work or anything else, it still counts.