Ross-shire's mountain guardians reflect on impact of an uphill struggle
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The vast patch covered by a Ross-shire mountain rescue team witnessed five tragic fatalities over the last year. The mental wellbeing of volunteers carrying out an often thankless task has been by and large ignored for years, though that is now changing Hector Mackenzie discovers
THEY put their lives on the line around the clock and at a moment's notice in some of the most treacherous terrain found anywhere on the British Isles.
Often acting on the most tenuous of information pieced together by fraught relatives or concerned accommodation providers, their unseen, unpaid mission – often under cover of the night and in sub-zero temperatures – can quite literally be the difference between life and death.
When it ends badly, they're the ones left picking up the pieces, all too aware of the devastation loved ones will face when given the news they've been dreading.
And at the back of their minds is the cold, hard fact that some troubled souls at the end of their tether disappear into the wilderness through choice with no intention of returning.
Members of mountain rescue teams covering huge swathes of Ross-shire may slip out of their family homes in the dead of night when the call to action comes, natural adrenaline waking them from their slumber as the cold night air bites.
And when they return hours later, perhaps bearing a terrible mental burden, they'll be expected to slip seamlessly back into family life and expectations of everyday life.
For decades, it was expected that these unsung heroes would just get on with it, many not even burdening family members with details of their gruelling wilderness ordeals.
It's not all gloom and doom: these volunteers choose to do what they do through love of the great outdoors and a concern for like-minded people from all walks of life. There are shared moments of unbridled joy when a missing or overdue walker is located, perhaps injured, and plucked from a life-threatening situation to be returned to the grateful arms of their loved ones.
It's the mixed emotions of this most unique of callings which is driving a new wellbeing agenda centred on those offering a lifeline to others.
Donald MacRae has been involved with the Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team for more than 30 years, much of it as a leader. The volunteer "family" he belongs to is on standby to offer help to anyone in difficulty on the hills, mountains or crags in an area spanning more than 2600 sq. miles. That takes in everything from the famous pinnacles of Stac Pollaidh to the complex, multi-ridged An Teallach and the vast wilderness that is Fisherfield.
His work promoting the mental wellbeing of team members has been stepped up since he stood down as team leader and is clearly something about which he is passionate.
He said: "We are very vulnerable in terms of being in traumatic situations and then immediately going back into our normal daily lives. Part of our work is involving family members more than we do. A lot of members will leave the house and when we come back, the family won't know what we have been doing. The message is that it's good to talk and the debriefs that we have support each other.
"We are also working with employers. It's a big commitment to let an employee off work for the benefit of the wider community. One of the key things is awareness. Not being able to attend a rescue can also be stressful."
He admitted: "We are sadly called to deal with situations that are traumatic. It's important to have a chat and get a debrief. We are also focussing on the support we can offer to families. Families of people who have been involved in rescues can sometimes stay in touch for years. It's an important role that we feel we play."
He said the whole idea of wellbeing has been talked about since the 1990s but has recently risen up the agenda. he admitted: "Many folk, men in particular, are poor at raising concerns about wellbeing. Over the last years there has been a significant number of incidents and five fatalities. In years gone by that would just be a matter of fact. It was an overlooked area of mountain rescue. The whole agenda on wellbeing is very important. The majority of team members are male.We are very good at masking our emotions and using coping strategies. It's a case of getting across the message that it's good to talk and that it's okay not to be okay."
Some mountain rescue team members will this weekend attend "mental health first aid" training organised in conjunction with Police Scotland. It's a nod to growing acceptance of the importance of mental wellbeing not just of team members but of those they are called out to help and family members.
Dingwall-based MSP Kate Forbes has called on government and the wider community to recognise the role of mountain rescue teams and to consider what help they need. She said: "Mountain rescue teams are volunteers, who are willing to sacrifice their own lives in aid of others. Whether that is in winter, when storms and icy conditions can make the mountains treacherous, or in summer when thousands of visitors and local take to the hills, our mountain rescue teams are always on hand.
“Too often, especially locally, rescuers have indeed made the ultimate sacrifice. I think that there is an important role for government and others to consider what more we can do to support these volunteers at every stage.
“Members of the teams are understandably proud of their voluntary, independent status but I am always keen to identify how else we support teams. I have previously met with members of different teams to discuss what more can be done and have then made representations to the Justice Minister who has been open to suggestions.
“I think there is even more that can be done, and I would be keen to continue meeting with representatives of the MRTs to discuss these.”
Mr MacRae is appreciative of such support and the role Police Scotland plays in training and as a partner in missing person searches.
Asked about the motivation for such a challenging role, he said: "If you didn't enjoy it and get something back from it, you wouldn't be doing it. To me it's very much about how to support the community. We are a close knit family. The team really works well together. We are a family who enjoy what we do."
Related: Dundonnell team leader stands down
Team helps search for missing 72-year-old
Team scrambled after couple lost near An Teallach
