Caring for the heart and mind

In modern society, less and less value is placed upon help-seeking and we are all increasingly expected to cope with life independently. This approach can lead to social isolation, depression, anxiety and loneliness—and loneliness has been suggested to be as unhealthy for us as smoking 15 cigarettes per day, exceeding the risks of alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, obesity and air pollution (Holt-Lunstad et al, 2010).

As World Mental Health Day approaches on 10 October, the current issue of the Journal of Paramedic Practice includes several articles around the theme of mental health in paramedic practice, and this includes the mental health of the patients you treat, as well as, importantly, your own mental health.

On page 440, Cockrell et al discuss the salutogenic approach to wellness and a sense of coherence, which they define as ‘the capacity to muster, believe in and value resources to support resilience’. While some patients and paramedics may not have the resources to support their resilience, others may have them, but as Cockrell et al point out, may not have the ability to draw upon them.