B.C.’s overdose crisis is taking its toll on paramedics

The drug overdose crisis is taking a deep psychological toll on paramedics — so much so, that they say they have “compassion fatigue.”

The feeling occurs “where it just gets too hard to keep the drive going and the compassion going in these situations,” BC Emergency Health Services executive vice-president Linda Lupini explained.

Lupini said “resiliency” course is being offered across the province.

It’s taught by a psychologist who is a specialist in dealing with first responders.

“We had very, very good feedback that paramedics and dispatchers feel very differently when they walk out they can deal with a lot of feelings around this crisis,” Lupini said.

She said that attending numerous overdoses in a single day can weigh a paramedic down.

“You kind of wonder are we doing the right thing and is this ever going to end?” Lupini said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "You kind of wonder are we doing the right thing and is this ever going to end?" Lupini said.

B.C. ambulance paramedics have responded to a staggering 36,000 drug overdose calls in the last 20 months.

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