Photo by Don McCracken

Mental health is a new focus for Alberta Health Services when it comes to dealing with EMTs and paramedics.

Executive director of EMS clinical operations with Alberta Health Services (AHS) Calgary, Nick Thain, says they're starting to understand the effects these jobs can have on their front-line staff.

"We're certainly focusing more on it now," he says. "I would like to say that it's been a priority for a long time, but I think we're finally starting to understand the true clinical nature of what stress and mental disorders can have on practitioners who work in emergency services."

He says AHS is focusing on providing front-line practitioners the resources its staff needs.

"(We want to make it) so that when they show up to work every day, they will have the skills and support to cope with what they will see on a daily basis and when required, that we identify places where mental health is starting to create a challenge for them to provide that high quality care and that we care for them by providing supportive networks."