Emergency medical services (EMS) providers play a vital role in helping people through some of their most difficult moments. While this work is incredibly rewarding, it can also expose EMS professionals to trauma and stress that may build up over time. It’s important to know that feeling stressed or needing help is a natural human response. Seeking support is not only normal but encouraged.
The Minnesota Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) is committed to promoting the health and wellness of EMS providers. We offer a variety of resources to support EMS professionals and their agencies, including crisis support, wellness tools, and mental health services.
We also want to highlight the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) teams available to assist EMS personnel. A critical incident is any event that goes beyond typical human experiences and may trigger strong emotional, mental, physical, or spiritual stress reactions. While these responses are normal in abnormal situations, sometimes extra support is needed to manage them effectively. CISM offers tools and resources to help EMS personnel and teams process the impact of traumatic events. A key part of this program is Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD). Visit the CISM page to learn more about these valuable resources.
If you know of additional resources that could benefit EMS professionals, please email us at compliance.oems@state.mn.us.
