Burnout, anxiety, and depression were positively associated with suicidal risk in a cross-sectional survey of 315 EMS professionals, and suicidal risk differed across gender categories, with elevated scores among participants selecting a gender option outside the male/female binary.
Burnout, anxiety, and depression were positively associated with suicidal risk among EMS professionals.
Higher scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale subscales and the Maslach Burnout Inventory domains corresponded with higher Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised scores.
Suicidal risk differed across gender categories, with elevated scores among participants selecting a gender option outside the male/female binary.
The authors conclude that burnout and psychological distress are interrelated in EMS professionals and that accessible, evidence-based mental health interventions are needed.
This study surveyed 315 emergency medical services (EMS) workers, such as paramedics and EMTs, about burnout, anxiety, depression, and thoughts or behaviors related to suicide. It found that workers who reported more burnout, anxiety, or depression also tended to report higher suicidal risk. Suicidal risk also differed by gender. Scores were highest among the few participants who chose a gender option outside the male/female categories. Because this was a one-time survey, it shows links between these problems but cannot show that one causes another. The researchers suggest that burnout and emotional distress are closely tied in EMS workers. This research suggests that mental health support for these workers may need to address both individual symptoms and the stressors of the job itself.
Joy Hutchinson, Patrick Murphy. (2026). Emergency medical services (EMS) professionals: Unpacking anxiety, burnout, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and social support perceptions.. Psychological services. https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0001094