AIR AMBULANCES UK ATTENDS THE EMERGENCY SERVICES MENTAL HEALTH SYMPOSIUM

On November 23rd and 24th, the College of Paramedics, in collaboration with other emergency responder organisations hosted the Emergency Services Mental Health Symposium 2022 at Silverstone, home of British Motor Racing.

The event, which followed on from the hugely successful inaugural symposium hosted last year by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, showcased the progress that has been made one year on from when the Chief Officers of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, National Fire Chiefs Councils, Association of Ambulance Chief Executives and HM Coastguard all signed the Mental Health at Work Commitment for the Emergency Services and made a public pledge to address the mental health and wellbeing of their respective workforces.

Key speakers at the 2022 Symposium included practitioners, senior leaders, frontline staff and subject-matter experts from a wide range of 999 services and organisations from across the UK. Kerry Penn-Ashman, Critical Care Paramedic at Midlands Air Ambulance Charity presented Trauma Risk Management and how this fits within the organisation.

As well as a lived experience panel with members from three emergency services, there was also sessions on how to get active, family support, managing fatigue and supporting new recruits. The wellbeing hub offered some much-needed R&R and for those in search of a little more excitement, Silverstone offered racetrack tours, podium visits and car driving experiences.

The Symposium saw a plenty of visitors over the 2-day event. Never before have so many emergency service organisations across the UK come together to highlight and support the mental health of their emergency services’ workforce.

We’re looking forward to attending the 2023 event hosted by the College of Policing.