In this unit, students will focus on the health and wellbeing of paramedics themselves, exploring key health psychology concepts relevant to their work. Topics include the impact of nutrition and exercise on wellbeing, as well as the psychological challenges faced by paramedics, such as stress, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and suicide risk. Students will examine the health implications of shift work—covering sleep, diet, work–family balance, and stress—and consider how workplace culture, violence, stigma, and help-seeking behaviours affect paramedic wellbeing. The unit also provides students with knowledge of practical coping strategies for managing stress and building resilience when responding to potentially traumatic call-outs, encouraging students to reflect on their personal circumstances and preferred approaches.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
Selected readings will be made available on VU Collaborate.
This unit is studied as part of the following course(s):