Rescuing people is good, going to pieces afterwards is not : rescuers of human tragedies’ experience of trauma

Abstract

This dissertation assesses how the effects of trauma can impact the lives of rescuers of human tragedies. I have sought to understand the role that resilience plays as an active component in keeping rescuers free from psychological disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder. Participants in this study consisted of seven Armed Forces of Malta personnel from the rescue units. They were invited to share their experiences, whilst reflecting on the thoughts and feelings related to their disclosures. “How do traumatic experiences affect and impact the lives of rescuers of human tragedies?” is the main research question for this study. It was hypothesised that these individuals need psychological support to be able to carry out such stressful work and lead meaningful and functional lives. The qualitative design employed an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach through the use of semi-structured interviews. Emergent themes were imbued with the meanings that rescuers give to their lived experiences. The findings showed that trait resilience and self-efficacy help to support rescuers and that there is also a strong element of posttraumatic growth existent in this cohort. Furthermore, findings suggest that posttraumatic stress disorder may be present within the participants. Psychological support, in training or as an ongoing concern, does not seem to be available to the rescue units. As predicted, the participants have aspirations for counselling that would enable them to better handle work-related stress. In conclusion, the results, implications for the provision of counselling, and future research are also discussed.