THE STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH AMONG VIRGINIA’S EMS PROVIDERS 2022. The results of the 2022 EMS Provider Mental Health Survey are officially posted on the VDH website! To view the results, visit bit.ly/EMSMHSurvey22. This survey is a follow-up to the 2019 Virginia EMS Provider Mental Health Survey. The goal of the survey was to assess the mental health status of Virginia’s EMS providers, as well as the perceived mental health culture and services within the providers’ agencies. Additionally, providers were asked questions regarding substance use as well as the impact of job satisfaction, the COVID-19 pandemic and workplace violence on provider mental health. Approximately 70% of EMS providers believed they experienced EMS related burnout, traumatic stress, PTSD, depression, suicidal thoughts or actions, or emotional or psychological harm from verbal abuse or physical assault at some point during the past 12 months. Our hope is to use this data to raise awareness and drive further action aimed at improving EMS provider mental health resources.
You are not alone. If you are struggling, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. Visit bit.ly/FirstResponderMentalHealthVA for additional first responder specific mental health resources.
If you have additional questions about the survey or results, please contact Karen Owens, Emergency Operations Division Director, at Karen.Owens@vdh.virginia.gov.