Photo by Quintin Gellar
Suicide
The leading cause of death for Australians between the ages of 15 and 44 years is suicide – that equates to more than eight people every day (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016).
In practice, paramedics attend suicide scenes. From the previous topics we know that psychologic distress has negative impacts on health and wellbeing. Paramedics not only take care of the patient, bystanders and family, they take care of themselves. They are not immune to suicide as a practitioner or human.
Beyond Blue (2018) published a report of findings from a national survey focused on the mental health and wellbeing of Police and Emergency Services. Many in this cohort reported having high levels of resilience and good mental health, however, their suicidal thoughts were over two times higher than in the general Australian population and more than three times more likely to have a suicide plan (Beyond Blue, 2018).
Ambulance Victoria provide several support services for active and retired paramedics and their families. They are in the form of Psychologists, mental health clinicians, counselling, peer support and pastoral care.
In the community there are services like Life Line and Beyond Blue. Reduction in stigma around suicide is helped by the introduction of World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10), “R U OK?” day (September 14), and education programs focusing on mental health such as the Black Dog Institute.
As part of my own experience with suicide I found great support from, and became part of The Compassionate Friends Victoria, a peer-based organised that has a suicide specific support group. I still find that people shy away from discussing suicide but I am always prepared to hear others experiences of it and share my own – the less taboo it is, the better we will manage it as a society.
When I found this book it really piqued my interest. I really enjoyed this book. It’s written by a NSW paramedic and recounts his own experiences on the job, the cases and suicide.
It is not an academic study or report but does show a human perspective and insight.
