By More than three quarters of ambulance staff and around two thirds of police and firefighters say their mental health has worsened during the pandemic, a survey has found.
The mental health charity Mind said data from its survey of 3,812 emergency staff and volunteers had “laid bare” the impact of Covid-19 on those working in the sector.
It found that one in four 999 staff and volunteers rated their current mental health as poor or very poor, with ambulance service workers appearing to be the worse affected.
Overall, 77% of ambulance staff said their mental health had worsened during the pandemic, with 66% of police and 65% of firefighters saying the same.
PA Media
Charity Mind studies show emergency workers say mental health has worsened during pandemic.
Emma Mamo, the head of workplace wellbeing at Mind, said: “We know that even before the coronavirus outbreak, there were high rates of poor mental health across the emergency services.
“It’s clear from this latest survey data that the mental health of our emergency responder community has got even worse, with ambulance staff and volunteers hardest hit.”
She said Covid-19 had made their roles “more demanding”, with staff making potentially life-and-death decisions on a “daily basis”, along with additional concerns for their own health.
The survey comes as Mind announces the relaunch of its Blue Light Programme, which provides support, training and resources to all 999 staff and volunteers.
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