What is the Staying Well initiative at South Western Ambulance Service?

The Staying Well initiative is a mental health support service offered by the South Western Ambulance Service Foundation Trust to its employees.

Why do paramedics need mental health support?

Paramedics are more likely to experience mental health conditions due to the high-stress and traumatic nature of their work, including daily exposure to critical emergencies.

How has the Staying Well service helped ambulance staff?

The service provides counseling and support, with some staff reporting it has been essential in helping them cope with trauma and remain in their jobs.

Home / Health / Paramedics' Mental Health: Support Saves Careers

Paramedics' Mental Health: Support Saves Careers

16 Dec

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Summary

Mental health support has kept paramedics in their jobs.
Over 1,600 staff accessed support via the Staying Well initiative.
Emergency responders face higher mental health diagnoses than the public.

Paramedics' Mental Health: Support Saves Careers

Paramedics are crediting a dedicated mental health support service with helping them remain in their demanding roles, as demand for such assistance reaches unprecedented levels. The South Western Ambulance Service Foundation Trust's 'Staying Well' initiative has supported more than 1,600 employees in the last year. This program has been crucial for staff facing significant mental health challenges, which are known to be higher among emergency responders compared to the general public.

The 'Staying Well' service, established a decade ago, has continuously adapted to meet growing needs, now featuring an in-house trauma therapist. Emergency medical dispatcher Toria Ford shared how the daily exposure to critical incidents and not knowing patient outcomes significantly impacted her. She emphasized that experiencing such trauma multiple times a day, unlike the general population, was incredibly difficult.