Air Ambulance charity launch mental health initiative

Credit: ITV Meridian

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A programme is being launched in Hampshire to monitor the mental health of members of the emergency services.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance is the first in the UK to launch this mental health initiative.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance is the first in the UK to launch this mental health initiative. Credit: ITV
Members of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance are usually the first to respond to major incidents across the South. Credit: ITV Meridian

Members of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance are usually the first to respond to major incidents across the South.

The 33 staff members are being asked to fill out an anonymous questionnaire every month. The responses are record and monitor their feelings and encourage discussions about mental health.

  • Tom Nickisson-Richards, Paramedic

More than half of all workers in the health sector have reported struggles with their mental health Credit: ITV Meridian

The Duke of Cambridge worked for the East Anglian Air Ambulance and says he was "fortunate to work with a team who were encouraged to talk through the things they had seen when they returned to base."

The scheme could eventually be rolled out to help paramedics across the country Credit: ITV Meridian

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance charity hopes that the scheme could eventually be rolled out to help paramedics across the country.