The mental health of paramedics is critical, concludes a UQAR study

The mental health of paramedics has been critical across Quebec since the pandemic, according to the initial findings of an ongoing study project led by researchers at the University of Quebec at Rimouski (UQAR).

The research team managed to survey 282 paramedics in the past year, a response rate of 16%, to understand their mental state since the pandemic.

Thus, 168 men and 114 women, from 14 regions of the province, responded to the survey. They submitted to three different questionnaires validated by the scientific community.

In this preliminary study, we learn in particular that 69% of respondents suffer from depersonalization, therefore a feeling of detachment from oneself, that 44% of respondents say they feel professional burnout and that 20% of people surveyed could benefit from treatment for a post-traumatic stress disorder.

Data collection highlighted that the mental health of male respondents was particularly deteriorating. Men have more symptoms related to post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, burnout and feelings of depersonalization. Men also feel less personally accomplished. Women, however, presented more pronounced symptoms of anxiety compared to men.

There is still this idea of ​​the strong man, notes Charles Côté, the professor of management sciences at UQAR who conducted the research.

According to him, the mental health state of paramedics is more problematic than in the general population with between 19 and 26 points difference. These are the people who must arrive first at the scene of tragedies!worries Mr. Côté.

It was the Federation of Prehospital Employees of Quebec which commissioned this study from theUQAR after observing mental health issues within its teams.

Mental health weakened by the pandemic

Researchers recall that the COVID-19 pandemic has had negative impacts on the physical, mental, social and emotional health of healthcare workers.

The Federation of Prehospital Employees of Quebec, which paid for the study, believes that a blind spot in science regarding the state of health of paramedics remains, especially since the pandemic.

The vice-president of the Federation, Jérémie Landry, is concerned, but not surprised by the results. The Federation wants to use these preliminary results to raise awareness among decision-makers on this issue to strengthen mental health resources.

We want to have tools to prevent mental health because until now, very few tools are availableexplains Mr. Landry. We want to equip our unions, the employer and the Ministry of Health, to be preventive.

We want paramedics on the ground, not in post-traumatic shock at home.

The first results of this ongoing study have been presented to the Ministry of Health, indicates Professor Charles Côté.

The research team says it is continuing to analyze these preliminary results.

Furthermore, researcher Charles Côté will subsequently look at the state of mental health of emergency call dispatchers, who work on the front line.

With information from Édouard Beaudoin