Psychological Distress and PTSD Among NSW RFS Volunteers

This report summarizes the research by Milligan-Saville et al. (2018) published in Psychiatry Research, which investigated the impact of trauma exposure on the development of PTSD and psychological distress in the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) volunteer firefighters. The study involved a cross-sectional analysis of 459 NSW RFS volunteers and staff members using online questionnaires. The research revealed significant rates of probable PTSD, psychological distress, and mental health problems among the volunteers. The study found that frequent exposure to stressful events, traumatic experiences, and specific incidents like being trapped or assaulted increased the likelihood of mental illness. The authors concluded that further improvements in psychological support are needed to address the mental health challenges faced by volunteer firefighters, highlighting the need for additional research into factors like substance use and acute stress illness. The research emphasizes the importance of recognizing the 'at-risk' group and providing appropriate mental health services to protect the well-being of these volunteer service providers who defend their community.

Running head: TRAUMA THREATS PTSD AMONG NSW RFS
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TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE THREATS PTSD AMONG AUSTRALIAN
FIREFIGHTERS
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TRAUMA THREATS PTSD AMONG NSW RFS
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Traumatic experience threats PTSD among Australian volunteer fire service
Milligan-Saville et al. (2018) in the article entitled “The impact of trauma exposure on
the development of PTSD and psychological distress in a volunteer fire service”, published in
Psychiatry Research, highlights the core purpose of their research that is to survey the effect of
traumatic experience in developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and psychological
distress in volunteer firefighters also to inspect certain features connecting with elevated risk of
growing mental health problems. Milligan-Saville et al. (2018) reported that the Australian
volunteer fire service providers are susceptible to develop PTSD as well as psychological
distress because of some traumatic experiences such as trapped in dangerous situation or being
assaulted by other people.
For this purpose, Milligan-Saville et al. (2018) performed a cross-sectional study of 459
New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) volunteer or staff members by online
questionnaires between the periods of April to July 2017. Milligan-Saville et al. (2018) settled
three outcomes. The Milligan-Saville et al., (2018) stated that NSW RFS volunteers have
probable Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and also mental illness problem with significant
“psychiatric morbidity” rates like 5% to 10% (p. 1112). Milligan-Saville et al. (2018) reported
that the PTSD is more susceptible to the people who are frequently involved with a stressful
event and also severe shock experiences.
Milligan- Saville et al. (2018) conducted the data analysis with the help of Stata statistical
software, version 12.1 to assess the risk of PTSD and other mental disorder (p. 1112). Milligan-
Saville et al., (2018) carried out methods like chi-square test and t-test for identifying the mental
illness among those people. Milligan-Saville et al. (2018) revealed statistical data that showed
5.4%, 9.8%, and 11.8% are accountable to probable PTSD, psychological distress and mental

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health problem (p. 1112). According to Milligan-Saville et al. (2018), NSW RFS employees
were more likely to develop PTSD who had handled more than ten psychologically distressing
situations than the average individual. Milligan-Saville et al. (2018) further stated that NSW
RFS firefighters have more tendencies to develop greater amount of trauma compared to non-
experiencing people (p-1112). These outcomes also discussed that “being trapped” and “being
assaulted” volunteers have the most substantial probabilities of mental illness by more than three
elements (p. 1113).
Moreover, Milligan-Saville et al. (2018) proposed that certain life-threatening activities
can increase the “psychiatric symptomatology” in firefighters (p. 1113). Milligan-Saville et al.
(2018) stated that the incidents involving the deaths of children and adult might not affect the
members in a crude manner compared to extreme violence and devastating incidents. Milligan-
Saville et al. (2018) demonstrated that this study consists of “volunteer emergency service” that
categorized the PTSD and “psychological distress” as “at-risk” group as well as provided facility
for a check-up and referred to external care system (p. 1114).
In conclusion, the study noted that the prevalent exposure of distressed condition,
situation of assault by people and critical incidents raised the threat of PTSD, psychiatric distress
and mental illness among the volunteer firefighters and NSW RSF employees. Milligan-Saville
et al. (2018) suggested that additional information such as substance use, acute stress illness and
adjustment ailment might consider obtaining supplementary information for better understanding
of that particular disorder. Finally, Milligan-Saville et al. (2018) suggested that further
improvements in the area of psychological supports are required to determine the role of these
volunteer service providers in defending their community.
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References
Milligan-Saville, J., Choi, I., Deady, M., Scott, P., Tan, L., Calvo, R. A., ... & Harvey, S. B.
(2018). The impact of trauma exposure on the development of PTSD and psychological
distress in a volunteer fire service. Psychiatry research, 270, 1110-1115.