The Wellbeing Framework should be considered as a tool to use when developing local, and national, resilience and support “packages” for use across volunteer responder organisations. It aims to encourage and support a holistic approach to team member wellbeing.  The Wellbeing Framework might be an opportunity to get the team thinking themselves about risk and protective factors and impacts on self, family, and employment for example.  Some ideas on how to start the conversations within the team are on the supplementary sheet on this page along with thoughts on supporting potentially traumatic events. Links to some wellbeing videos are also on this page and can be used to start conversations.

Membership of a voluntary responder team should be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. Indeed, it can be seen to tick all five of the commonly referred to “Five ways to Wellbeing” – Connect, Be Active, Keep Learning, Give, and Take Notice. But, across the world, it is recognised that within volunteer (and full time) responder organisations this wellbeing and good mental health can be challenged by some of the tasks that team members can be exposed to, and this in turn has potential impacts on family, employment, the team, and life outside of volunteering.  The SMR Wellbeing Framework aims to take a holistic approach to volunteer responder wellbeing and resilience. This expands on previous initiatives, such as Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) training, which are more suited to post-event intervention/support, and for various reasons, and from experience, have not been easily adopted in volunteer organisations such as mountain rescue.  Looking after wellbeing should be seen as just as important as other training that goes to help protect the physical health and safety of members. Teams should manage all activities taking account of both the risks to both physical and mental health of team members.