With the COVID-19 pandemic in our rearview mirror, we are left to deal with the aftereffects of those years in lockdown. The burden caused by the pandemic has been felt deeply. Paramedics in particular have had to carry a large part of that burden since the beginning. This has caused many mental health problems on the frontline that are being felt to this day.
Balancing twelve-hour shifts that rotate between days and nights is a challenge as is. But now imagine that those twelve-hour shifts are accompanied by additional overtime hours almost daily. Paramedics find themselves understaffed and overworked. And with that lies the question of “why?”
“Many paramedics did not make it out of the pandemic, and those that did are dealing with the repercussions,” says Ted Sanders, Oxford County’s Primary Care Paramedic.
The combination of an increased workload, the heightened risk of exposure and an increased emotional strain has taken a toll on the mental health of paramedics. Now, many are facing symptoms of burnout, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of their experiences during the pandemic.
The truth is that paramedics play one of the most crucial roles in emergencies by providing primary care to patients. And when the world went into lockdown, this care was needed more than ever. So, they took on the brunt of the load in order to maintain the health and safety of their community, even if they sacrificed their own in the process.
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