A Survey Review of Mental Health Training in Paramedic Preparation Education Programs

Background: Due to an increased volume of mental health-related emergency calls, paramedic training needs to address the unique needs of these situations. This investigation aimed to assess current training among initial paramedic education programs to prepare paramedics responding to mental health crisis-related calls. Methods: This study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional mixed methods survey distributed to directors of Committee on Accreditation for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP)-accredited programs. Data were collected on current training methods among initial paramedic education programs. To examine the variations in perceived training effectiveness and demographic traits, we carried out bivariate analyses with the aid of Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. We performed thematic analyses to examine the open-ended question responses. Results: From the 140 respondents, we found that program directors considered behavioral health the least useful training areas of the training areas listed in the survey, with a 3.38 mean score (out of 5). Notably, 83 participants (59.3%) reported that behavioral health and psychiatric disorders had increased. Further, 64 participants (45.7%) said mental health training hours should increase. Our study highlights the need to expand mental health training and add crisis topics to the curriculum. Participants also emphasized the need for awareness of mental health crisis calls for their own safety, stating that de-escalation training might improve paramedic safety. The most effective current strategies for training in mental health crisis include fostering an expectation of compassion, being empathetic, advocating for patients, developing a style for working with patients, recognizing collaboration, using training types that involve educating, applying, and evaluating, and intentionally engaging in thoughtful debriefing following real-life patients. Conclusions: The findings from this study underscore the urgency for initial paramedic education programs to bolster mental health crisis-related training. Participants reported awareness of mental health crisis and de-escalation training is crucial in ensuring paramedic safety.