A photo-elicitation study of paramedics’ perceptions of mental illness.

Jessica Zoe Houston,John Rae,Lyle Brewster

doi:10.32378/ijp.v5i1.225

Jessica Zoe Houston, John Rae + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.32378/ijp.v5i1.225

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Abstract

The number of people with mental illness who are treated by paramedics is increasing and there are a variety of factors that can affect how well this service demand is met. One such factor is paramedics’ perceptions of mental illness. Photo-elicitation was used to explore how paramedics felt about mental illness and to generate new ways of thinking about this important aspect of paramedicine practice and education. Highlighted is that paramedics can feel helpless and under-prepared in treating people with mental illness and that two concepts of ancient Greek origins — aporia and phronesis — offer a useful way forward in thinking about and responding to this.

Highlights

The number of cases involving mental illness treated by paramedics is increasing (Roberts & Henderson, 2009; Shaban, 2015, yet there is limited research on paramedics’ perceptions of mental illness (Prener & Lincoln, 2015)
The complex nature of mental illness means that paramedics must go further than being able to implement protocols for the treatment of mental illness; treatment practices must be underpinned by beliefs and attitudes that enable the very best treatment and care
Matching the rise in demand for acute mental health care with research about how paramedics feel about mental illness will assist in better understanding this aspect of paramedicine practice

Summary

Introduction

The number of cases involving mental illness treated by paramedics is increasing (Roberts & Henderson, 2009; Shaban, 2015, yet there is limited research on paramedics’ perceptions of mental illness (Prener & Lincoln, 2015). Matching the rise in demand for acute mental health care with research about how paramedics feel about mental illness will assist in better understanding this aspect of paramedicine practice. Much of the limited research on paramedics’ perception of mental illness comes from the functionalist paradigm — see, for example, Ahmad, Ayu and Rawiyah (2004). These researchers have applied methodologies that are quantitative and with a relatively narrow scope, and this has been beneficial in terms of informing practice guidelines and so forth. Free from any prejudice about ‘what we know’, it was considered that a deep understanding of how paramedics perceive mental illness would help to inform professional development programs, more targeted research, refocused undergraduate and postgraduate university-level paramedic programs, and more holistic treatment of people who have mental illness

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