Introduction Paramedics have treated many patients suspected of having COVID-19 throughout this pandemic. The uncertainty regarding COVID-19 contagion, effectiveness of infection protection and controls, and the uncontrolled environments in which paramedics work may adversely impact their mental health.

Objectives To characterize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of Canadian paramedics using preliminary data.

Methods Self-reported questionnaire data was collected from paramedics across five Canadian provinces as part of the COVID-19 Occupational Risks, Seroprevalence and Immunity among Paramedics (CORSIP) project. Validated screening scores were calculated for major depressive disorder (MDD, PHQ-9 questionnaire) and probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD, PC-PTSD-5 questionnaire). Satisfaction with life (SWL) measures were adapted from validated Canadian Census questions and confirmed by reliability analysis. Bivariate relationships of screening scores were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-ranked, Cliff’s d, and differences in proportions tests where appropriate.

Results Completed questionnaires from 1,906 recruited paramedics were analyzed (95% completion rate). The overall prevalence of MDD was 31.6%. Suicidal ideation (i.e., ‘thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself in some way’) was reported by 8.3% of paramedics. In addition, 40.2% of paramedics screened positive for probable PTSD, with no significant difference being reported before vs. during the pandemic. Paramedics reported higher median SWL prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (20 vs. 16, p<0.001). There was a large effect size (d=0.52), suggesting a greater probability that paramedics would report higher SWL prior to COVID-19.

Conclusion Canadian paramedics appear to be at risk for MDD and PTSD. While the proportion of paramedics with probable PTSD does not appear to have changed during the pandemic, a reduction in SWL was observed. Incorporating follow-up data that will be collected from participants over the next year will be imperative to assess the stability of these findings and evaluate differences by province.