In early November, I was invited—on behalf of the First Aid Training Co-operative—to speak at RGS Explore 2025, the Royal Geographical Society’s premier annual event dedicated to expedition planning, field research, and purposeful travel. Held at the RGS headquarters in London, this weekend-long gathering is the UK’s leading forum for explorers, researchers, students, outdoor professionals and content creators who are preparing to go into the field.
For anyone searching for expert advice on how to plan an expedition, how to manage risk on field projects, or how to build resilience on remote journeys, RGS Explore is one of the most important and inspiring events in the UK outdoor calendar. The programme is packed with workshops, talks and practical sessions delivered by more than a hundred world-leading expedition professionals, field scientists, adventure filmmakers, and communicators.
This year I had the privilege of contributing a specialist session on Mental Health First Aid for Remote and Expedition Environments—a topic increasingly recognised as essential for safe, ethical and effective fieldwork.
Why Mental Health First Aid Matters on Expeditions
Mental health is often overlooked in expedition planning, despite being a leading cause of incidents, early withdrawals and impaired decision-making in the field. Stress, anxiety, burnout, interpersonal conflict and unresolved trauma can affect anyone, whether they are trekking in the Andes, conducting climate research in Africa, or undertaking conservation projects in remote Scottish glens.
The Royal Geographical Society highlighted this growing need by including mental health prominently in their 2025 programme. My session connected with the Society’s wider online content, including the RGS on-demand talk:
Mental Health First Aid – Supporting Yourself and Others When Working in the Field
This increased visibility reflects a broader shift in expedition culture. Leaders, researchers, students and adventure travellers are recognising that mental resilience is just as vital as physical preparedness.
Introducing the FIRST Protocol
At the First Aid Training Co-operative, we created a practical, easy-to-remember mental health incident procedure specifically designed for outdoor and remote contexts. At RGS
Explore I introduced delegates to the FIRST protocol:
- F – Find Out / Figure Out what is happening
- I – Investigate gently, with curiosity not judgement
- R – Reassure the person and reduce anxiety
- S – Signpost to ongoing or professional support
- T – Take Care of yourself and the wider group
FIRST is built from thousands of hours spent training outdoor leaders, expedition guides, students, paddlesport instructors, safari guides and remote workers across the UK, Europe, Africa and the Americas.
Delegates were particularly interested in how to use FIRST during:
- Delayed evacuations or multi-day extractions
- High-stress moments on treks, remote climbs or river journeys
- Cross-cultural research projects
- Team conflict during long expeditions
- Working with students who are away from home for the first time
- Managing their own stress while supporting others
The workshop emphasised subtle communication, emotional awareness and practical steps for building psychologically safe teams—skills that dramatically reduce risk in remote environments.
A Weekend Full of Energy, Curiosity and Practical Learning
RGS Explore 2025 was alive with energy from the moment the doors opened. The atmosphere is unlike any other event in the outdoor world. Across the weekend, hundreds of people took part in workshops covering:
- Expedition risk management
- Field research logistics
- Navigation and travel planning
- Ethical and inclusive exploration
- Biodiversity surveys and conservation science
- Photography, film and storytelling
- Building partnerships with communities
- Climate-conscious and responsible travel
It is this combination of inspiration and practical, applied knowledge that makes RGS Explore such an important event for anyone preparing fieldwork or planning purposeful travel. Throughout the weekend, delegates approached me with questions about supporting their team’s mental health, handling burnout, managing stress in remote locations, and preparing themselves emotionally for long periods away from home. Their engagement demonstrated that the mental health conversation in the outdoor sector is gaining momentum—and that people want clear, usable tools.
Why the Outdoor Sector Is Embracing Mental Health Training
Search trends and fieldwork research increasingly show that:
- Mental health incidents are common in expedition teams
- Anxiety and stress impair decision-making more than physical injuries
- Psychological safety improves group performance and cohesion
- Leaders equipped with mental health skills are more confident and effective
- Outdoor organisations are actively seeking mental health training for staff
Universities, field research organisations, expedition companies and adventure travel operators are now exploring how to embed mental health first aid into their pre-departure training.
The First Aid Training Co-operative has become a leading provider of outdoor-specific mental health training, delivering courses across Scotland, the UK and internationally—from polar expedition teams to safari guides in Kenya.
Looking Ahead: A More Resilient Future for Expedition Teams
Being invited to speak at RGS Explore 2025 was a significant milestone, not just for me personally, but for the wider recognition of mental health in the outdoor sector. It signals that expedition culture is changing. Teams want to be safer, more resilient, more compassionate and more prepared—not only physically but psychologically.
We will continue developing and delivering mental health first aid training tailored for remote environments, expeditions, adventure travel and outdoor education. If your expedition, university group or travel organisation would like to learn more about mental health first aid in the outdoors, please get in touch. We offer bespoke courses for fieldwork teams, adventure programmes, students, guides and researchers heading into challenging environments.
