Brandon University Releases Study on Volunteer Firefighter Organizational Culture
A recent study appearing in the Journal of Rural and Community Development published by Brandon University attempts to explore the “unique mental health needs of volunteer firefighters” through the culture and support systems of the so-called “fire family”.
It isn’t clear whether the uniqueness of volunteer firefighter mental health needs is a distinction apart from other employees or volunteers in municipal organizations generally, or from career firefighters specifically, but the paper does clarify the similarities between career and volunteer firefighter perceptions of colleagues as ‘family’ as well as their similar expectations for support within an organizational culture of trust – especially from supervisors in positions of leadership.
The paper highlights at least two critical concerns: That volunteer firefighters can and do attend the same types of calls as career firefighters and, therefore, experience similar mental trauma, and; that volunteer firefighters may not have the same access to mental health support services, including treatment, as career firefighters.
The researchers pointed to the ‘fire family’ as an initial and integral social structure for addressing volunteer firefighter mental health needs. This highlights opportunity in targeting supervisors, especially as leaders, for peer-support training so they can better recognize signs of need then deliver immediate assistance.
The hope is that municipalities will quickly recognize the mental health needs of their volunteer firefighters and either develop, or extend employee assistance services. The word ‘volunteer’ should not be problematic for assuring mental health support. Among others, smaller municipalities can look to current models in larger career departments for precedent.
The authors of this paper were careful to point out the small sample size in appropriately making recommendations for further study. You can read the Journal article at: View of The “Fire Family”: A qualitative Exploration of the Volunteer Firefighter Organizational Culture and Social Support System In Rural Communities
