Trade Publication Article

The EMS Suicide Threat: New research fi nds alarmingly high rates of ideation and risk

Svancarek, Bridgette, Lulla, Al, Moy, Hawnwan Philip, Tian, LinLin, Mueller, Kristen

2020

Overview

Traumatic calls, poor sleep quality, long shifts, lack of downtime after difficult calls, low salary, and low job satisfaction combine to make EMS one of the toughest jobs around.1-5 For these reasons EMS providers are at high risk for burnout, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and suicide.6-14 According to the Department of Health and Human Services, suicide is a public health crisis in the U.S., with an estimated 40,000 Americans committing suicide annually and 3.9% of Americans experiencing suicidal ideation every year.15 Research in first responders such as police officers, firefighters, and EMS providers indicates an alarmingly high career prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts.16,17 In fact, one study revealed 15.5% of firefighters had attempted suicide at least once during their career.17 Furthermore, a recent retrospective study of death records found EMS providers were more likely to die by suicide than non-EMS providers.18 To many in EMS these findings will be unsurprising. Identifying the proportion of EMS providers at risk for suicide is a critical step with respect to appreciating the magnitude of the problem, dissolving the stigma, and prioritizing the initiation of prevention strategies and allocation of mental health resources for those affected. An SBQ-R score of 7 or greater has been validated as an effective predictor of increased risk for future suicidal behavior.20 In total EMS providers were administered a 19-item survey that included the four SBQ-R questions, plus others on demographics (race, age); setting of the agency (urban, rural, etc.); number of years spent working in EMS; average shift length in hours; average number of hours worked per week; self-reported sources of stress; whether the EMS provider personally knew another EMS provider who experienced suicidal ideation or committed suicide; and personal use of prescription medications for depression and/or PTSD. [...]this ideology dies, many providers will continue to hold their silence if they are depressed/suicidal.

• Publisher: HMP Communications
• Subject: Careers / Firefighters / Fires / Mental depression / Mental health / Post traumatic stress disorder / Self destructive behavior / Stigma / Suicides & suicide attempts