Healing the helpers in the wake of last week’s tragedy

The tragic events of April 23 — that took place on a sunny afternoon in Toronto — have cast a shadow on this city.

No one within miles of the attack has been unscathed by the senseless loss of life. This is doubly true of first responders, who are called upon to bring support in the wake of destruction.

From last Monday’s random act of violence to a fatal bus crash miles away in rural Saskatchewan, we must tend to the mental health of paramedics across the country.

Paramedics, dispatchers and their administrative colleagues, are bound by the rewards and stresses they face. They are not invulnerable to the trauma they witness — and are more likely to have suicidal thoughts and be diagnosed with mental illness than other first responders and the general population.

Thus, there is a thirst for resources among paramedic leadership. That’s where a blueprint like the “Psychological Health and Safety in the Paramedic Service Organization Standard” comes in. Released on Thursday in Toronto, the “Paramedic Standard” was funded by the Government of Ontario and designed to meet the needs of paramedics. When we think about mental health problems affecting first responders, the fire fighters of Fort McMurray or the RCMP in Moncton may be top of mind.

But day after day, paramedics respond to the unknown. They intervene in dangerous or traumatic events, and they have crucial health-care decisions to make in the span of moments. Compound these stressors with compassion fatigue and you have a breeding ground for mental health concerns.

We are not suggesting that all, or even the majority, of the 40,000 paramedics in Canada are living with a mental illness. But the demands of the job are an undeniable risk factor — to ignore it is to imperil our communities.

Louise describes paramedics as, “heroes and health-care providers in equal measure,” situated in the crosshairs of two rigorous professions. Pierre agrees we can’t ask people to deplete their emotional resources without replenishment.

That’s why the Paramedic Association of Canada and the CSA Group partnered with the Mental Health Commission of Canada to develop a workplace psychological health and safety standard specifically for paramedic personnel.

By acknowledging the realities of operational stress injuries, which go beyond PTSD, and range from anxiety and depression to problematic substance use, paramedics can show us all a better way forward. Through addressing mental health at work, paramedics are putting mental wellness at the heart of everyday social interactions. The Paramedic Standard reminds us that ambulances and paramedic stations are not only essential services — they are workplaces. It gives those workplaces means to raise awareness about stigma, identify sources of stress and examine measures to control those hazards.

Equally important, if paramedic personnel can come forward with their mental health concerns, without fear of job loss or limitation, that sets an example for workers across Canada.

While there is no silver lining to a senseless tragedy, there is an opportunity to redouble our efforts to create caring, supportive communities — including workplaces.