CHSA has made a grant to The College of Paramedics to develop a service to provide specialist mental health interventions for paramedics.
This grant means that working with the NHS Practitioner Health service and The Ambulance Staff Charity (TASC), a service can now be developed to meet the needs of paramedics with the most serious and complex mental health problems. This new service will enable more paramedics to get the vital help they need.
David Davis, College of Paramedics Joint Mental Health Lead and Chair of the Paramedic Mental Health and Wellbeing Steering Group said: "This is a very exciting development for two reasons. Firstly, because it allows us to start answering unmet need amongst the profession and secondly, because it shows how our fellow professions recognise the immense psychological pressures facing paramedics throughout their careers. We know that rates of suicide and PTSD, alongside other mental ill health plagues our sector at levels much higher than in the general population and this is an important step in addressing these issues.'
Prof Jane Cummings CBE, former Chief Nursing Officer for England and trustee of CHSA said: 'We are very pleased indeed to have been able to fund the College of Paramedics and alongside it The Ambulance Staff Charity to provide mental health interventions to this important group of professionals. COVID-19 has placed immense pressure on all health and care professions and paramedics have been at the forefront of healthcare delivery in some of the most challenging conditions. We look forward to working with the College in providing care and developing knowledge in this important area.’