The union asks for better support for paramedics amid ‘intensive mental health crisis’
During more than 30 years as a paramedic in BC, Terry Mcmanus has made many nights to sleep.
“You come home from work and you still have something in your mind. Or you rip a strip of a waiter or waitress because the ice is not cold enough. It has nothing to do with the waiter or ice.
Macmans, who has now retired from the job, saw and experienced the call every day on the call.
But he says that there was a decrease in support of mental health of him and his colleagues.
“I, personally, was a consultant, a mental health professional, asks me to stop the session because the information I was giving them was very graphic.
Advocates such as Macmans are calling for better mental health aid for paramedics, which represents the Paramedics and Dispators of the Sangh, describing as a “intensive mental health crisis” within the profession in a statement.
The chairman of BC’s ambulance paramedics, who represents around 6,000 paramedics and dispatches across the province, stated in a news release that the union is watching “unprecedented levels of mental health and well -being” among the union members.
The Sangh said recent reports suggest that 30 percent of paramedics and dispatches are working for mental health reasons or actively involved in mental health treatment. It said that due to health issues, accidents and some cases, due to suicide, this year Paramedics has died in nine BC, which the Sangh believes that the workplace is very likely to “.
“It is necessary that we take care of our people, make sure they are healthy and safe to work, so they can stay there for your family members, when they need them most, the Union President Jason Jackson said.” We need a solution, and we now need them. ,
Compilation issues
Nikki Rope, a mental health and wellness co-ordinator for the union, said that the last six years have been challenging especially for paramedics.
He said, “With the ongoing Opioid crisis, which continues to take a lot of our call volumes, epidemic, flood, heat domes, lack of our staffing, forest fire, everything. All these are complex things,” he said. “And we keep coming back to work, and we keep doing these things and keep showing.”
But what is not happening, he said, it is that paramedics are not getting enough time to recover from stressful innings, day and day out, and they do not have equipment to work through overlapping trauma.
According to the union, paramedics in BC responded to about one million calls.
“I think there are many people who have fatigue of compassion, burnout, whatever words we are using, but we are tired,” Rope said. “We are tired, it is sure.”
‘We have come a long way, but this is not enough’
BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) provides mental health services for employees, including a team after a painful call and is also available as required. BCEHS also has an employee and family support program that provides support for employees and their loved ones, and has round-the-clock crisis support.
WorksFBC stated that it also provides some services, such as consultation and access to other mental health experts.
BCEHS Chief Operations Officer Jenny Helmer said that she listens loudly and clearly from front-line employees that she needs more.
“We are working on an immediate action plan for more support, more education, more equipment, more equipment that employees are asking and then working along with a long-term approach,” he said.
Macmans said that he would like to see consultants who are available 24/7, who have experience dealing with the experience of the first respondents of trauma.
“Maybe they have spent some time working in emergency departments … they can see what we do and they can feel it a little more and be kind and can be kind and we can get the help we need.”
ROPP stated that immediate psychological support should be priority, and paramedics and dispatcators should have better benefits to allow their mental health to be more active.
“We have gone a long way, but this is not enough.”
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