'I was told if I couldn't hack it, I should hand in my uniform.' Volunteers share suicidal thoughts after fighting bushfires
- Written by: Erin Smith, Associate Professor in Disaster and Emergency Response, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University
AAP Image/Dan HimbrechtsAs Australia braces for another bushfire season, new research from Edith Cowan University has revealed how our volunteer firefighters are still reeling from the effects of the catastrophic 2019/20 bushfires.
Of the nearly 65,000 responders who helped during the Black Summer bushfires in NSW, 78% were volunteers. In our...