The Alberta Paramedic's Association is partnering with the Psychologists Association of Alberta to create a registry of psychologists qualified to deal with the trauma associated with being a first responder. So far, ten doctors in the Edmonton and Red Deer area are on the registry. Darren Sandbeck, Chief Paramedic with Alberta Health Services EMS, says paramedics in Airdrie can still get the help they need to deal with the difficulties of their job.

"The safety and the well being of our EMS staff is critically important to us. We provide around the clock peer support, crisis support, chaplin services, grief counseling. We do this through our employee and family assistance program, through our critical instant stress management and peer support program, as well as a health helpline."

The APA is an independent body that operates seperate of AHS. Sandbeck says that all EMS in Alberta have resources available to them to help them deal with trauma and stress related tot heir job.

"These programs are available to all EMS staff across the province. These are provincial programs that are available for staff to use at their request or their desire."

Marc Moebus, the executive director of APA, hopes they will have Calgary psychologists listed on the registry soon.

"We are working with the Psychologist Association of Alberta on provincializing this registry," said Moebus in an email. "We have had many requests from psychologists in the Calgary area and we want to make this opportunity available to them and paramedics in that region."

In order to qualify for the registry, psychologists must have experience dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and attend a workshop put on by EMS on what paramedics do.

 

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