Supporting Mental Health in EMS Clinicians: A NAEMSP Position Statement and Resource Document

Emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians operate in environments characterized by repeated trauma exposure, operational unpredictability, shift work, moral distress, and cumulative occupational stress. A substantial body of evidence demonstrates elevated rates of post-traumatic stress symptoms, depression, anxiety, substance use, sleep disturbance, burnout, and suicide among EMS clinicians and other public safety professionals compared to the general public. The implications extend beyond individual well-being, affecting workforce sustainability, clinical performance, and high quality patient care. Mental health in EMS is therefore not solely an individual concern, but a systems issue. Therefore, the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) recommends that:Organizational leadership should recognize EMS clinician mental health as foundational to workforce sustainability and safe patient care.EMS clinician mental health awareness, management, and treatment options should be a core part of EMS education.EMS systems should take a multi-faceted approach to mental health, with an emphasis on ensuring access to confidential and culturally competent resources for EMS clinicians and other public safety professionals including telecommunicators, law enforcement officers and firefighters.EMS systems should engage in quality improvement to identify and improve practices affecting EMS clinician mental health.EMS systems should achieve meaningful and sustainable improvements in EMS clinician mental health through legislative advocacy and building strong partnerships with local, regional and national agencies including public health and research institutions.