Fortem celebrates 6th birthday on World Mental Health Day
Fortem Australia is expanding its early intervention and prevention support for first responders with the launch of a new online webinar – Aftermath: Rebuilding strength, restoring hope.
This one-hour session is designed to increase first responders and their families’ knowledge and understanding of the impacts that can arise during and after responding to natural or man-made disasters. It looks at how stress, trauma exposure, and emotional triggers affect the body and mind, and explores proven strategies to respond early and protect long-term mental health.
‘First responders often face intense and unpredictable conditions, all while managing their own reactions to traumatic events,’ said Kim Harrison, a registered psychologist and member of Fortem’s clinical team, who will deliver the webinar. ‘By learning techniques to manage these reactions, we can reduce the longer-term impacts and support recovery and wellbeing.’
Participants will explore key areas including disaster response, emotional triggers, and the body’s fight–flight–freeze mechanisms, gaining tools to stay grounded through high-stress periods.
The Aftermath webinar reflects Fortem’s ongoing commitment to early intervention and preventative mental health support, promoting resilience, recovery, and overall wellbeing, while reducing stigma around seeking help.
Open to all first responders and their families, the live session includes a Q&A opportunity and will be recorded for later viewing.
Kim brings extensive experience from her work within a policing organisation and has a strong passion for creating accessible, practical mental health literacy content.
Aftermath: Rebuilding strength, restoring hope will be held live on Wednesday, 15 October from 6:00–7:00pm AEST.
For more information or to register, visit Aftermath Webinar | Virtual – Fortem Australia