Introduction
Mental health issues commonly occur within all workplace environments. However, paramedics are particularly at risk due to the duties they are required to perform and the implication of a rotating shift-work roster (1). The profession requires certain compromises, such as decreased personal time and increased work place responsibilities. This results in less time to maintain personal health and well-being, placing these individuals at greater risk of developing and/or poorly managing an illness (1). Furthermore, the development and poor management of mental illness can result in death by suicide, especially among emergency service workers. Between 2000 and 2012, 110 paramedics, police officers and firefighters took their own lives …show more content…
Although its psychological factors have commonly been recognised in the literature, the diagnostic label of PTSD was not formally recognised until 1980. Traumatic situations, including human suffering and life threatening situations are common in the everyday practice of a paramedic (7). These jobs in particular, result in the mental health and emotional wellbeing of the paramedic being challenged and in particular circumstances, lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (4, 8). Emotional, cognitive and behavioural responses to critical incidents present paramedics with a series of challenges before, during and after a shift (4, 9). PTSD is significantly more prevalent among paramedics than the general population, with approximately 14.6% of paramedics affected by this illness, in comparison to approximately 1.3-3.5% of the general population (8). PTSD can affect all paramedics regardless of age and experience as studies have proved that these factors are not associated with its development (4, 8). As a result of developing PTSD, many emergency shift workers, including paramedics, are declared unfit to work. This disabling effect of the mental illness following a traumatic event negatively effects the individual, the emergency service and society at large as the person’s quality of life diminishes and resources become scarce …show more content…
There is currently no governmental lead agency or standards organisation that initiates psychological intervention programs or provides guidelines on such matters (10). However, there are five main focus areas that are targeted by health organisations within Australia to prevent, manage and improve mental health issues among emergency first responders, including paramedics (11). These focus areas include raising mental health awareness, assessing risks, managing risks, supporting ability to work and providing rehabilitation
Mental health issues commonly occur within all workplace environments. However, paramedics are particularly at risk due to the duties they are required to perform and the implication of a rotating shift-work roster (1). The profession requires certain compromises, such as decreased personal time and increased work place responsibilities. This results in less time to maintain personal health and well-being, placing these individuals at greater risk of developing and/or poorly managing an illness (1). Furthermore, the development and poor management of mental illness can result in death by suicide, especially among emergency service workers. Between 2000 and 2012, 110 paramedics, police officers and firefighters took their own lives …show more content…
Although its psychological factors have commonly been recognised in the literature, the diagnostic label of PTSD was not formally recognised until 1980. Traumatic situations, including human suffering and life threatening situations are common in the everyday practice of a paramedic (7). These jobs in particular, result in the mental health and emotional wellbeing of the paramedic being challenged and in particular circumstances, lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (4, 8). Emotional, cognitive and behavioural responses to critical incidents present paramedics with a series of challenges before, during and after a shift (4, 9). PTSD is significantly more prevalent among paramedics than the general population, with approximately 14.6% of paramedics affected by this illness, in comparison to approximately 1.3-3.5% of the general population (8). PTSD can affect all paramedics regardless of age and experience as studies have proved that these factors are not associated with its development (4, 8). As a result of developing PTSD, many emergency shift workers, including paramedics, are declared unfit to work. This disabling effect of the mental illness following a traumatic event negatively effects the individual, the emergency service and society at large as the person’s quality of life diminishes and resources become scarce …show more content…
There is currently no governmental lead agency or standards organisation that initiates psychological intervention programs or provides guidelines on such matters (10). However, there are five main focus areas that are targeted by health organisations within Australia to prevent, manage and improve mental health issues among emergency first responders, including paramedics (11). These focus areas include raising mental health awareness, assessing risks, managing risks, supporting ability to work and providing rehabilitation