The Feed: Oct 30

Tonight on SBS 2’s The Feed the show looks at life on the frontline for paramedics with Ambulance Victoria, and the sometimes tragic consequences of this often-gruelling profession.

Producer Ben Rylan and camera man Miles Bence discover that for ambulance officers, their long hours and confronting and traumatic line of work is taking its toll on the mental health of workers.

The suicide rate amongst paramedics in Victoria is about 20 times higher than the rest of the population, according to a report by The Age newspaper in 2012.

Dave Toll a paramedic in Victoria explains that in the past six to seven years he has lost eight to ten friends and colleagues to suicide.

“The fatigue, the ten hours with no breaks, the 14 hour night shifts, the missing of family events. These guys are paramedics because they want to help people. It’s why they do the job… and they push themselves too far,” Dave explains to The Feed.

Fellow Ambulance officer Nicole says that she at first wasn’t aware of how her work was affecting her, but over time her world view began to change. She first realised the extent of her trauma when she spoke with her colleagues.

“I had a bunch of suicide plans for when I got old. It’s something that I’ve often talked to other paramedics about,” said Nicole.

When Cath Mok’s partner Helen left their home one night after an argument and didn’t return, she assumed she had gone somewhere to cool off. It wasn’t until the police arrived the next morning with her group manager and explained she had used drugs from the ambulance branch to take her life, that Cath fully understood the impact the job had on her.

“There were a few accidents that she went to that she found very disturbing. Things like picking up body parts off the road,” said Cath.

Cath shares her frustrations with the industry’s management of and support for the mental health of its workers.

“I can imagine if teachers took their lives at the same rate, there would be a much bigger response,” Cath remarks.

The Feed contacted Ambulance Victoria, who weighed in on the issue and explained their ongoing plans to reduce these risks.

“Ambulance Victoria understands the risk of fatigue in the challenging environment that emergency services operate in. We support and manage fatigue for our staff in a variety of ways including education, policies and procedures relating to end of shift strategies, minimum rest breaks between shifts, meal break management, and opportunities for paramedics to take fatigue breaks.

“We have also commenced a research project to explore potential roster options that meet our service delivery while allowing for a reduction in shift length,” said Tony Walker, Ambulance Victoria.

7:30pm Thursday SBS 2

LifeLine: 13 11 14
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