Overcoming the barrier of stigma

Last month, three members of the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) died within 11 days. Two are believed to be frontline paramedics, the third was a 999-call handler who is said to have been ‘battling mental health issues for many years’ (ITV, 2019). In addition to Ambulance News Desk reporting these to be suicides, a whistleblower from the service is said to have warned health authorities in October of potential suicides as a result of toxic working conditions within the Trust (Davis, 2019). The whistleblower has now called for an urgent public inquiry into the sudden deaths (Davis, 2019).

This inquiry may uncover working conditions and practices that need to change for the wellbeing of the Trust's staff; but this story also shines a light on a larger issue at play in the ambulance working culture, and in our society. We may have come some way in the fight against the stigma surrounding mental health, but it is proving challenging to eradicate. We live in a culture that makes us feel we need to be okay.