Police officers and paramedics are often the first on the scene when tragedy strikes. The psychological toll of witnessing these traumatic events may be pushing some of these first responders towards increasing alcohol use.
PICTURE: PixabayNew research from the University of the Western Cape (UWC)
suggests that the higher the levels of stress and psychological distress among
these frontline workers, the more likely they are to turn to harmful drinking
as a way of coping.
The study surveyed over 400 experienced police officers and
paramedics in the Western Cape - 309 police officers and 120 paramedics. Titled:
“Alcohol Use in First Responders in South Africa: Psychological Distress
Factors Related to Harmful Drinking and Alcohol Dependence”, and published in
the Turkish Journal on Addictions, the findings show that anxiety,
depersonalisation, fatigue and insomnia were significant predictors of alcohol
use.
‘’Harmful drinking refers to a pattern of alcohol
consumption that causes physical or mental harm. It often includes binge
drinking, defined as consuming four or more drinks for women, or five or more
drinks for men, on a single occasion. Surprisingly, post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD), which previous research has linked to harmful drinking among
the police, did not emerge as a predictor of alcohol use in this study,’’ said
Prof Anita Padmanabhanunni, psychologist and Dean of the Faculty of Community
and Health Sciences, and Prof Tyrone Pretorius, UWC’s former Rector and
Vice-Chancellor.
She says a culture of ‘bravado’ may be the reason why first
responders are reluctant to seek help.
‘’PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by extremely
traumatic events. Symptoms can include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety
and intrusive thoughts about the incident,’’ said Padmanabhanunni.
According to the study authors, Prof Padmanabhanunni, this
is the first known study to examine the link between harmful alcohol use and
psychological distress among South African first responders, specifically
police officers and paramedics.
‘’Participants at risk of harmful drinking consistently
reported higher levels of psychological distress across all measures, revealing
a clear connection between mental health difficulties and alcohol use. Research
suggests some people turn to alcohol to cope with emotional distress such as
sadness, anxiety, trauma and sleep problems. While it may provide temporary
relief, it can reinforce drinking and lead to withdrawal symptoms when people
try to cut back, creating a cycle of ongoing distress and dependence.’’
In the latest study, researchers say that although the
study was limited to one province and two groups of first responders, the
findings highlight an urgent need for interventions to support their mental
health, including critical incident debriefing and mindfulness-based support
programmes.
Prof Padmanabhanunni said protecting the mental health of
first responders, who often carry the psychological burden of trauma in
silence, is “essential for sustaining emergency services and for ensuring that
quality care is provided to communities”.
Although support services exist in some South African
settings, they are often not easily accessible, trusted, or well integrated
into the workplace, and stigma around mental health and seeking help remains a
major barrier.
“In South Africa, concerns about confidentiality, fear of
being judged, and broader barriers to accessing care may prevent many first
responders from accessing mental health support. This can allow distress to
escalate and increase reliance on harmful coping strategies such as alcohol
use,” Prof Padmanabhanunni said.
A culture of toughness among first responders, where
emotional control and self-reliance are seen as signs of competence, can
discourage help-seeking behaviour.
“When emotional distress is treated as ‘weakness’, many
first responders may feel compelled to push through rather than seek support.
In this way constructions of masculinity can become a barrier to help-seeking,”
she said.
Done By: Mitchum George
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