Occupational and Organizational Issues in Emergency Medical Services Behavioral Health

SUMMARY

Recent advances in research and understanding of the behavioral health impacts of an emergency medical service (EMS) career have necessitated reconceptualization of previous approaches to prevention, mitigation, and intervention. Approaches modeled on critical incident stress debriefing have fallen into disfavor due to a growing body of research indicating little if any efficacy for these techniques while suggesting the potential for paradoxical impacts on the recovery of some recipients. Current recommendations focus on supporting personal and organizational foundations that help to bolster resilience while ensuring that processes are in place to provide access to intervention utilizing evidence-informed best practices where indicated.

KEYWORDS:

• Behavioral health
• emergency medical personnel
• firefighters
• intervention
• prevention

Notes

Source: Brewin et al., 2002.

Commissioned by the National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians and first published by NAEMSP as: Gist, R., & Taylor, V. H. (2008). Prevention and intervention for psychologically stressful events. In D. Cone, R. O'Connor, & R. Fowler (Eds.), Prehospital medicine: Clinical practice and systems oversight. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt. Further reproduction is prohibited.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Richard Gist

Richard Gist, PhD, is Principal Assistant to the Director, Kansas City, Missouri Fire Department and Department of Preventive Medicine, Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences.

Vickie Harris Taylor

Vickie Harris Taylor, LCSW, is Behavioral Health Consultant to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.