Mental health difficulties in paramedics: A review of the literature.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Mental health difficulties in paramedics: A review of the literature.
Authors: Thomas, Jade
Source: Counselling Psychology Review. Dec2023, Vol. 38 Issue 2, p18-29. 12p.
Subjects: Mental health of students, Emergency medical technicians, Mental health, Quality of work life, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Self-expression
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
Abstract: Background: Paramedics are frequently exposed to traumatic events as part of their role. The implications of this constant exposure have suggested that paramedics are at high risk of developing long-term mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, burnout, trauma, PTSD, and suicide. Purpose: To synthesise studies to examine factors that play a role in the development of mental health difficulties in ambulance personnel. As well as, establishing gaps within the literature for further research. Data Sources: From the first 77 published journals reviewed from Psycinfo, PsychArticles, CINAHL, Education Research Complete, ERIC and grey literature, 15 studies met the inclusion criteria for this review and were included in the present study. Results: Findings of this review suggest that the mental health and wellbeing of paramedics are significant issues. In reviewing the research, it was found that several different factors may play a role in the development of mental health difficulties in ambulance personnel. Four main themes were determined, (1) occupational stressors, (2) negative attitude towards emotional expression, (3) peer and social support, and (4) preparing paramedics for mental health challenges. Conclusions: It is paramount for further research to explore paramedic students' mental health experiences, as well as a focus on research to investigate a UK paramedic population due to most of the literature focusing on an international population. Psychological support and early interventions should be made a priority for all ambulance workers, as a way of improving the quality of the working life of paramedics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Counselling Psychology Review is the property of British Psychological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 175255121
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Mental health difficulties in paramedics: A review of the literature.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Thomas%2C+Jade%22">Thomas, Jade</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Counselling+Psychology+Review%22">Counselling Psychology Review</searchLink>. Dec2023, Vol. 38 Issue 2, p18-29. 12p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+health+of+students%22">Mental health of students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emergency+medical+technicians%22">Emergency medical technicians</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+health%22">Mental health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Quality+of+work+life%22">Quality of work life</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Maslach+Burnout+Inventory%22">Maslach Burnout Inventory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self-expression%22">Self-expression</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom%22">United Kingdom</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: Paramedics are frequently exposed to traumatic events as part of their role. The implications of this constant exposure have suggested that paramedics are at high risk of developing long-term mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, burnout, trauma, PTSD, and suicide. Purpose: To synthesise studies to examine factors that play a role in the development of mental health difficulties in ambulance personnel. As well as, establishing gaps within the literature for further research. Data Sources: From the first 77 published journals reviewed from Psycinfo, PsychArticles, CINAHL, Education Research Complete, ERIC and grey literature, 15 studies met the inclusion criteria for this review and were included in the present study. Results: Findings of this review suggest that the mental health and wellbeing of paramedics are significant issues. In reviewing the research, it was found that several different factors may play a role in the development of mental health difficulties in ambulance personnel. Four main themes were determined, (1) occupational stressors, (2) negative attitude towards emotional expression, (3) peer and social support, and (4) preparing paramedics for mental health challenges. Conclusions: It is paramount for further research to explore paramedic students' mental health experiences, as well as a focus on research to investigate a UK paramedic population due to most of the literature focusing on an international population. Psychological support and early interventions should be made a priority for all ambulance workers, as a way of improving the quality of the working life of paramedics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Counselling Psychology Review is the property of British Psychological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=175255121
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.53841/bpscpr.2023.38.2.18
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 18
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Mental health of students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Emergency medical technicians
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Quality of work life
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Maslach Burnout Inventory
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self-expression
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: United Kingdom
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Mental health difficulties in paramedics: A review of the literature.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Thomas, Jade
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 12
              Text: Dec2023
              Type: published
              Y: 2023
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 17572142
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 38
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Counselling Psychology Review
              Type: main
ResultId 1