Professional/Regulatory
Thinking about a career in Paramedicine
Applying to be a paramedic student
Within your application, showing that you have emotional awareness; that you are able to reflect upon and understand factors that may affect you, how you manage your emotions, as well as recognising the emotional responses of others, is key to demonstrating the social skills of self-awareness and empathy – both of which are essential to being a paramedic. The following information can help with this and give you ideas for your own personal statement.
Understanding our own unique vulnerabilities is at the heart of staying well as a paramedic, or paramedic student. Our mental health and wellbeing are influenced by our individual life experiences and circumstances and is dynamic; it will change depending on our life experiences and the situations we face. For example, it can be affected by factors such as:
In addition to the human challenges listed above, the operational complexities and pressures associated with shift work, as well as exposure to incidents that have potential to be distressing, can place additional challenges on paramedics’ mental health. Naturally, the work of a paramedic means that we will, sometimes, be faced with incidents and events that are distressing and will require us to provide care for individuals with significant injuries, long-term conditions, and those who have been bereaved; sometimes in traumatic circumstances. This kind of work brings with it distinctive emotional and psychological demands.
In addition to the human challenges listed above, the operational complexities and pressures associated with shift work, as well as exposure to incidents that have potential to be distressing, can place additional challenges on paramedics’ mental health. Naturally, the work of a paramedic means that we will, sometimes, be faced with incidents and events that are distressing and will require us to provide care for individuals with significant injuries, long-term conditions, and those who have been bereaved; sometimes in traumatic circumstances. This kind of work brings with it distinctive emotional and psychological demands.
It’s important to remember that when working as a paramedic and encountering these challenges, we also bring with us our own unique past life experiences and personal history. Factors such as these can have a strong influence in how we experience workplace challenges, and shape how we are impacted by them, as well as how we respond to them. Thus, what affects one person more significantly, may not affect someone else. There is no right way to feel.
Developing emotional self-awareness, as well as having trusted sources of social support are key to enhancing our understanding of how our mental health may be impacted, our resilience to these challenges and the coping mechanisms that work for us.
Practising proactive physical and mental health self-care is essential to helping manage stress and promote positive wellbeing.
Some helpful self-care strategies include:
1
Taking time to connect with others both in and outside of work
This can help you engage with who you are as a person beyond your role as a paramedic.
2
Reflect on why certain incidents resonate with you
This is not a weakness. Recognising your vulnerabilities is a key strength and you may need to look after yourself more when these specific types of incident occur.
3
Make time to do the things you enjoy, wherever you can.
Doing things you enjoy helps you relax, feel happier, and provides a break from daily stress.
4
Look after your physical health e.g. sleep, diet and exercise.
Keeping your body healthy gives you more energy and helps your mind work better.
5
Take note of how you are feeling and talk to someone you trust.
Noticing your feelings and sharing them can help you feel supported and stop problems from building up.
(Mind 2022a & Mind 2022b)
Do you know how to balance your stress?
Consider if your stressors are balanced with ways that you relax. Everyone has different elements of stress within their lives, not just their job and studying at university. Do you know how you relax and recharge?
Consider some helpful ways of coping with stress below:
- Exercise
- Talking to a friend or family member
- Socialising with a friend or family member
- Eating well
- Good sleep hygiene
- Meditation
- Yoga
Things to consider about paramedic life
There are certain aspects of paramedic life that you should consider before you apply. Becoming a paramedic involves academic study and clinical placement. You will have to adapt to living away from home which may be hard if you have not done so before. The emotional labour of being a paramedic and dealing with stressful, and often traumatic situations can be quite difficult, but also very rewarding.
Fitness to practise
Many paramedics and student paramedics worry about disclosing their mental (or physical) health struggles for fear of being seen as ‘unfit’ to practise. This is a myth! In fact, many paramedics have experience of living with mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression, or neurodivergent conditions such as dyslexia or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
It is important to remember that having a health condition does not mean you cannot practise as paramedic, but consider how well your condition is managed, and what you need to help you manage your condition.
The HCPC emphasise that as registrants, we need to understand the importance of looking after our mental health and develop strategies to enable us to maintain our psychological wellbeing. Just like physical health, this can include recognising if you are becoming unwell and managing health conditions through reaching out for and engaging with support such as medication or psychological therapy.
Applying for paramedic roles as an applicant with a diagnosed mental health or neurodivergent condition
Most organisations and companies that employ paramedics tend to have an occupational health department who will provide health screening following an applicants’ successful job interview. Whilst for clinical roles, this meeting will likely cover off all your necessary inoculations etc, it is likely that they will discuss aspects of the work with you such as physical elements including your ability to lift and drive. It is also likely that they will ask about any previously diagnosed conditions and how they might impact you in undertaking this role, and whether any reasonable adjustments are required.
In the case of prior diagnosed mental health or neurodivergent conditions, the occupational health provider may request a clinical report from your GP or mental health team for example, to gain a better understanding of your condition and how it affects you, as well as any treatment that you are receiving or may need to receive in the future. This may also include requesting information from the DVLA if your condition impacts your ability to drive, if driving is a core part of the paramedic role that you have applied for.