Mental health and wellbeing resources

Fortem places high importance on connecting the first responder community to accessible, quality, and relevant information that can promote insight, reflection, and help-seeking. With over 60 years of combined clinical experience, the subject matter experts couple real world knowledge, plain language explanation and first responder-specific clinical application with lived experience that is embedded within Fortem.

The aim of the resources is to empower the first responder community – personnel and family members – with information that is research-informed and that works to highlight and/or normalise the experiences of first responder life and its challenges.

Content warning: If reading one of our resources triggers thoughts of suicide or vulnerability and you need professional support, please reach out to Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) or Fortem’s Clinical Services (1300 33 95 94).

Mental Health PPE for Families

A good, balanced life is the best personal protective equipment (PPE) you can have to protect your family's mental health.

Mental health PPE

A good, balanced life is the best personal protective equipment (PPE) you can have to protect your mental health.

How to support someone with PTSD

If there is one thing people with PTSD wish for from those around them, it's understanding. In this resource, you will learn the many ways you can support them.

Support a first responder who is struggling

Families and friends, are usually the first to see the signs when a first responder is struggling. There are lots of ways you can support them through a tough time.

How (and why) to talk about suicide

It can be confronting, but talking directly about tough subjects can help make a difference to someone in your life. Here’s how.

Eat well when your partner works night shifts

If your partner is a first responder, they may work some night shifts. Eating alone can affect your diet, so let’s look at how you can create healthy habits.

Exercise is medicine

It’s well known that exercise can be used as a tool to improve wellbeing and help build mental fitness. We have advice to help you get started!

Body weight exercise programs

Incorporating daily exercise into your life doesn’t require specialised equipment or a gym… just use what you have, your body!

Resistance band exercise programs

Resistance bands are an easy and affordable way to enhance and build your exercise routine as your fitness and confidence grows!

Movement for resilience

Learn to set the strong foundations of resilience through movement. You’ll learn how physical activity can impact and help to build resilience, enabling you to bounce back and grow from challenging experiences, and how to incorporate this into your lifestyle.

Exercise for stress relief

Exercise is vital for both your physical and mental health. Learn how to use exercise to help with stress, depression, anxiety and PTSD.

Imposter Syndrome: Understanding and taming feelings of self-doubt

This resource is designed to help you recognise and understand feelings of self-doubt, and provides tools to help you manage them.

Identity and career transition

This resource supports you to work out how to be in the world before, during and after a career transition – without the uniform or the first responder role.

Impact of COVID-19 on first responders

This resource is a guide for first responder communities to both acknowledge the stresses of the pandemic on mental health and wellbeing, with links to resources to repair and replenish.

Ways to repair and recharge from the stress of COVID-19

This resource provides some useful strategies for repairing first responder wellbeing and social connections, replenishing on-the-job, and finding ways to reconnect to values.

Supporting yourself through stress and burnout

Stress and burnout affect even the most resilient humans. This resource helps you to understand the warning signs, and how to support yourself or a loved one in challenging times.

Dealing with uncertainty

Both first responders and their families can experience anxiety in some form. We have some helpful advice for dealing with uncertainty.

Keeping yourself safe from suicide

If you have been experiencing thoughts of suicide, this toolkit is designed to help keep you safe and find support in times of distress.

How (and why) to talk about suicide

It can be confronting, but talking directly about tough subjects can help make a difference to someone in your life. Here’s how.

Critical events: recognising and managing the impacts – a guide for family members

Understanding how a critical event may impact your family unit can be helpful in reducing the size of the impact and the chance of experiencing ongoing challenges.

Critical events: recognising and managing the impacts – a guide for first responders

Understanding how a critical event may impact you can be helpful in reducing the size of the impact and the chance of experiencing ongoing challenges.

How to support someone with PTSD

If there is one thing people with PTSD wish for from those around them, it's understanding. In this resource, you will learn the many ways you can support them.

Understanding PTSD

PTSD is caused by trauma, which can affect even the toughest of first responders. This resource is designed to help you and your loved ones understand what you may be going through with PTSD.

Helping children through trauma

Whether your child has experienced a trauma, is witnessing a loved one go through a challenge, or is going through loss, here are 20 ways to help them through it.

Journey to balance: Michelle McKenzie’s letters

At our Beyond Brave summit, St John Ambulance EMT Michelle McKenzie shared her story ‘Journey to balance’. She also read a letter penned to herself, acknowledging her capability, reaffirming her commitment to the job but with new insights.

Beyond Duty Summit

In September 2021, Fortem Australia hosted a one-day online summit for leaders, staff, volunteers, families and communities connected to first responder and national security agencies.

Mental health and wellbeing resources

Handy one-page guides

Mental Health PPE for Families

Mental health PPE

Social Connection

Improving your relationships through communication

Family rituals

Mental fitness and social connection

How to build connections

Validate your mate

Supporting a first responder

Improving your relationships through communication

How to support someone with PTSD

Support a first responder who is struggling

How (and why) to talk about suicide

Eat well when your partner works night shifts

Healthy habits

Shift work and daily routines: The balancing act

Create a self-care plan

How to practise gratitude

Building healthy sleep habits

Eat well when your partner works night shifts

Eat well when you work night shifts

Physical fitness

Exercise is medicine

Body weight exercise programs

Resistance band exercise programs

Movement for resilience

Exercise for stress relief

Career

Imposter Syndrome: Understanding and taming feelings of self-doubt

Identity and career transition

Stress

Impact of COVID-19 on first responders

Ways to repair and recharge from the stress of COVID-19

Supporting yourself through stress and burnout

Dealing with uncertainty

Suicide

Keeping yourself safe from suicide

How (and why) to talk about suicide

Trauma and PTSD

Critical events: recognising and managing the impacts – a guide for family members

Critical events: recognising and managing the impacts – a guide for first responders

How to support someone with PTSD

Understanding PTSD

Helping children through trauma

Beyond Resources: Fortem Summits

Journey to balance: Michelle McKenzie’s letters

Beyond Duty Summit

Sponsors