Rescuing the Rescuers: Suicide Prevention through Risk Factor Surveillance

POSTER

Rescuing the Rescuers: Suicide Prevention through Risk Factor Surveillance Gordon Mills, RN, BSN, DNP-FNP student, University of Utah College of Nursing Key Point: Utah EMS providers are at increased risk for METHODS suicide. Understanding the risk factors leading to suicide aids in • Electronic survey utilizing REDCap development of prevention and treatment programs. RESULTS • Three validated screening tools • PTSD Check List – Civillian (PCL-C) • Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) • Depression and Anxiety Severity Scale (DASS-21) • Questions regarding access to firearms and high-risk medications included in demographics section of survey • Survey distributed by email through the Professional Firefighters Union and the Utah State Bureau of EMS. • Data downloaded from RedCap to MS Excel for descriptive statistical analysis PURPOSE This project aimed to discover the prevalence rates of suicide risk factors among Utah EMS providers: • Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) • Alcohol abuse • Access to lethal means PTSD DSM Criteria: BACKGROUND • Suicide rate among general U.S. population is 13 per 100,000 • Suicide rate for EMS providers is 17.2 to 30.5 per 100,000 • In general population is 6% • Alcohol abuse in the general population is 6.2%. • Rates of access to lethal means is poorly documented, but is well-known to be a factor in completed suicides. • Syndemic theory suggests a synergistic relationship between the three risk factors which increase suicide risk. • Data on PTSD, alcohol abuse, and access to lethal means has not been studied for Utah EMS providers 25.5% Problem Drinking 12.8% METHODS • Severely elevated rates of PTSD • Meets DSM_IV_TR criteria: 25.5% • PTSD Symptoms-total score >30: 55.6% • Prevalent alcohol abuse and problem drinking • Problem Drinking: 12.8% • Prolific access to lethal means of suicide • Firearms in home: 76.3% • Firearms in other homes (friends, family): 76.5% • Medications • Narcotics/Opioids: 59.6% • Sleep aids: 51.9% • Antidepressants: 36.4% • SSRI: 36.3% • Cardiovascular drugs: 29.9% DISCUSSION PTSD Symptoms 55.6% Firearms: 76% Medications: 59+% • • • • EMS providers clearly exceed national rates for PTSD. More than half have symptoms of PTSD Alcohol abuse is 1.5x the general population The majority of Utah EMS providers have access to lethal means of suicide CONCLUSION Value: Establishing prevalence of suicide risk factors among Utah EMS providers • Contributes to acquisition of funding and support for prevention and treatment programs. Limitations: Self-reported surveys • Selection bias-voluntary participation • Response bias of self-reported personality measures • Some participants may be afraid to accurately report for fear of losing employment Recommendations: Utilize data for suicide prevention and treatment programs. Project Chair: Dr. Michael Johnson, PhD. Content Expert: Dr. Richard Landward, LCSW