Mental Health Needs and Challenges Among EMS Professionals

Introduction: Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel are regularly exposed to high-stress situations, traumatic events, and life-threatening environments. The constant barrage of intense scenarios and critical incidents, along with chronic stressors of the job, places them at risk for burnout and the development of mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. The Mental Health Needs Assessment (MHNA) explores issues related to mental health for EMS in New York State (NYS). Methods: The MHNA is based on a representative, statewide web survey and qualitative focus groups. The sampling frame includes first responder occupations across NYS, including EMS. The final EMS survey sample was 2,229. Survey data were evaluated through basic descriptive statistics. Thematic qualitative data analysis was applied to focus group data. Results: There are multiple sources of stress for EMS. Critical incidents, like traumatic events, and workplace challenges, like toxic work culture, were identified as sources of stress by the majority of EMS. Approximately 4 in 10 EMS cited public perception of the profession, difficulty with colleagues, and shiftwork as stressful elements of their work. EMS reports a range of mental health challenges. Stress was experienced by more than two-thirds of EMS. A majority of EMS reported having experienced symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. Just under half experienced symptoms associated with PTSD. Thoughts of suicide were reported by 20 percent. EMS encounters barriers to seeking mental health care. Approximately eight in ten reported stigma, fear of being seen as unreliable, and lack of culturally competent providers as barriers to seeking care. About three-quarters cited concern about negative career impact and concern about confidentiality as barriers to seeking care. Conclusion: EMS in NYS, as elsewhere, faces multiple stressors, endures a range of mental health challenges, and confronts barriers to seeking mental health care. MHNA revealed important information and implications for improving interventions among EMS.