Wellbeing Challenges when Working in Difficult Contexts

Overview

Keeping the public safe exposes personnel tasked with this responsibility to situations that have the potential to negatively impact their wellbeing. For example, personnel may encounter distressing material, be required to spend extended time away from their usual support structures or operate in environments with physically and psychologically demanding conditions. For some, this may impact their emotional, psychological and/or physiological health. Understanding how to support people in these situations is of paramount importance.

Public safety work is inherently challenging and often exposes personnel to sustained psychological and physical pressures. Addressing these pressures
is a critical concern for organisations, practitioners and policymakers.

This short report summarises key observations from a workshop with academics, practitioners and industry. Observations are informed by a mixture of findings from attendees’ research, personal experience and anecdotal accounts. In places, we have supplemented the points raised in the workshop with reference to additional scientific research.

This summary does not represent a complete coverage of the wellbeing literature or all of its facets; rather it offers a snapshot of some key areas of importance.