Week Four: Wellness in Paramedic Training and Support Services

Introduction

  • The transcript records the fourth week's session of a paramedicine course with guest speakers Megan and Margo from Essa Ambulance and Chris from Flinders Health Counselling and Disability Services.

Session Overview

  • The session highlights wellness during placements and how students can protect themselves.

  • Emphasis on holistic self-care and mental health for paramedic students.

  • Megan Walkley introduces herself and Margo, discussing their backgrounds.

Acknowledgment of Country

  • Recognition of the Kaurna people's traditional ownership of the land, respect for their spirituality, history, and culture.

Megan Walkley's Background

  • Position: Acting Operations Manager for Executive Operations Support, focusing on staff wellness.

  • Personal Background: Wife, mother of two, animal lover, beekeeper, enjoys camping, and crocheting.

  • Paramedic experience since 2002.

Margo's Background

  • Position: Operations Team Leader for Staff Wellness.

  • Personal Background: Wife, mother of twin girls, enjoys health, fitness, nutrition, camping, and traveling.

  • Paramedic since 2003.

Importance of Self-Care

  • Identify oneself beyond the paramedic role; understand that personal identity matters.

  • Discuss the challenge of maintaining wellness through the tough and emotional aspects of paramedic work.

  • Encourage students to keep their individual identities intact beyond the paramedic uniform.

Paramedic Work Challenges

Personal Experiences

  • Everyone presents some personal experiences or emotional stories to inspire the audience.

  • Example from Megan’s experience with a pregnant woman in cardiac arrest, highlighting the emotional impact and successful outcomes in tough scenarios.

Common Paramedic Calls

  • Description of various calls faced by paramedics, emphasizing quick response times and emotional challenges of the job.

Emotional Rollercoaster of Paramedic Work

  • Emphasis on the balance between excitement and challenges of being a paramedic.

  • Acknowledge the range of feelings: fulfillment, nervousness, pride, and the need for self-awareness.

Common Sources of Stress

  • Obvious Stressors:

    • Critical calls such as stabbings or severely ill patients.

    • Situations of being ramped (waiting at hospitals with patients).

  • Less Obvious Stressors:

    • Family obligations, being late, adjusting to the workforce, COVID-19 influence.

    • Shift work and the associated social and familial impacts.

Personal Encounters and Learning

  • Importance of learning from various experiences in paramedic roles, from handling intricate situations to managing emotional responses.

Mental Health and Well-being Overview

  • Mental Health is dynamic; changes occur over time and situations.

  • Emphasize holistic health considerations, such as sleep, nutrition, exercise, and optimism.

Positive Psychology Principles (by Martin Seligman)

Five Key Areas of Well-Being (PERMA)

  1. Positive Emotions: Recognizes the importance of acknowledging what brings happiness.

  2. Engagement: Activities where time seems to vanish; engagement in hobbies and practices.

  3. Relationships: Valuing connections for mental health; significant social networks.

  4. Meaning: Feeling a purpose in acting beyond oneself.

  5. Accomplishments: Setting and achieving small, life-sustaining goals to foster confidence.

  6. Additional components: Acknowledge nutrition, sleep, physical activity, and optimism's roles in holistic health.

Self-Care Tips

Key Takeaway:

  • Prioritize self-care; normalizing the need to seek help.

  • Management and practice of positive psychology concepts.

Practical Steps for Well-Being

  • Monitor Your Feelings: Understand your thresholds of stress and avoid suppression of emotions.

  • Regular Reflection: Determine activities that support well-being and routines that safeguard mental health.

  • Routine Creation: Establish daily consistency for mental and physical resilience.

  • Grounding Techniques: Learning to center oneself through mindfulness practices and breathing exercises.

Addressing Potential Trauma in Emergencies

Understanding Vicarious Trauma and Compassion Fatigue

  • Definitions of vicarious trauma as the emotional impact of responding to others’ suffering; also, compassion fatigue as the exhaustion from consistently helping others in distress.

Burnout Prevention

  • Understanding the signs of emotional and physical exhaustion which can lead to a detachment or lack of compassion.

Post-Traumatic Concepts

Definitions

  • Definitions of PTSD and post-traumatic growth as a evolving awareness through preceding stress.

Benefits of Peer Support Programs

  • Peer support is available for helping after traumatic calls; students are urged to identify needs and ask for assistance.

Health Counselling and Disability Services Overview

  • Chris introduces the counseling services provided by Flinders University including stress management techniques, the importance of social connections, and mental health support.

Access to Services

  • Information on counseling schedules, the process for referrals, and designated personnel for addressing concerns.

  • Availability of telehealth appropriate for students in locations outside of SA.

Conclusion

  • Acknowledgment of the unique experiences students will face; encouragement to embrace their growth journey while fostering emotional resilience.

  • Inviting questions and discussions post-presentation to foster engagement and understanding of services.

  • Final thoughts on staying proactive about mental health amidst the challenges of paramedic training.