In an emergency call 999 and ask for Police then Mountain Rescue

 

We aim to support a culture where all volunteers (and staff) in mountain rescue in Scotland enjoy a positive and rewarding experience throughout their journey from recruitment to retirement.  This applies to whatever role(s) they play throughout the broad spectrum of providing a world-class mountain rescue service.  We recognise that the risks associated with psychological injury arise from both operational and organisational stressors.  The organisational stressors are often linked to the general challenges of being a volunteer responder, the pressures of managing teams (charities), and even during training.  These can be as much a risk as operational trauma exposure.  We are committed to reducing these risks wherever possible and having support in place should it be needed.

The SMR Wellbeing Framework (2020) and the Guiding Principles for Emergency Response Volunteer Wellbeing (2023) may also be helpful (as might a team specific “Welcome to the Team” family booklet) :

SMR Wellbeing Framework Guiding Principles for Emergency Response Wellbeing

We have laid out some thoughts on managing the risks of psychological injury in the TOOLKIT below.  This covers our stepped approach for “before, during, and after” which includes:

Lifelines Scotland:  https://www.lifelines.scot/ There are resources here to help us to understand and maintain our own personal resilience; how we can best support our colleagues; and information for families, friends and other supporters.

Police Scotland EAP: Call 0800 046 5593 or https://policescotland.yourcareeap.co.uk

Rivers Centre (NHS): Post Incident (trauma) Support from NHS professionals (see below)

TOOLKIT

Managing the Risks of Psychological Injury

This toolkit contains information and tools that we can use to “GET UPSTREAM” – how we can prepare, lower the risk and reduce the risk of psychological injury.

Remember, We can also use the Psychological First Aid model to help anyone in distress, whether that be a colleague or those we go out to help (eg a member of the public caught up  in an incident/rescue).  The Lifelines website has more information: https://www.lifelines.scot/post-trauma-support-providing-psychological-first-aid

The toolkit can be used to support the “Humanitarian” section of the IIMARCH briefing structure in Incident Management.

Toolkit PDF Capacity Self Check Tool PDF Post-Incident Self-Check Tool PDF Coping after a Potentially Traumatic Experience PDF

Any questions can be sent to wellbeingofficer@scottishmountainrescue.org

The Rivers Centre

Post Incident Support Process (PISP)

SMR has an agreement with The Rivers Centre (NHS) to provide post incident support following potentially traumatic events.  Details of how to access this support can be found in the General Information document below and in the TOOLKIT PDF document above.

You can download the editable PDF of the questionnaire to fill out digitally and then email to the Rivers Centre as detailed in the information documents and template email below.

General Information Document Template E-Mail to be Sent Out with Questionnaires Questionnaire