Paramedics to test new mental health app

Hastings-Quinte paramedics will now be testing out a new app in a mental health wellness program.

The plan was approved by Hastings County council at its virtual meeting on Thursday.

The paramedics will participate in a mental health wellness program to trial the PeerConnect app with First Response Mental Health.

The provincial Ministry of Health has agreed to pay for the first year setup costs, and any licences for paramedic services to trial the app.

Currently, Hastings-Quinte Paramedic Services has a peer-support team which uses a phone and WhatsApp system.

Chief of Paramedic Services Doug Socha tells Quinte News that the local service is already being used by the paramedics.

 

Socha explained that the paramedics deal with many tragic issues and sometimes need to talk with someone about the issues.

Members of the peer support team have been trained to deal with these matters.

The idea is to compare the new PeerConnect app with the present one to determine if there is a greater benefit for paramedics to connect with wellness resources.

Socha says, “This application is a new technology that is being trialed to see if we can use a different form of technology to find out is it better or is our existing system good for the paramedics to connect with each other.”

The Ministry of Health has agreed to pay for the first year setup costs, and any licences for paramedic services to trial the app.

Currently, Hastings-Quinte Paramedic Services has a peer support team which uses a phone and WhatsApp system in an effort to connect paramedics requiring peer support.

By agreeing to use the PeerConnect app, the service would use the trial time to compare this platform to the one currently in use, to determine if there is a greater benefit for paramedics to connect with wellness resources.

This agreement is 100% funded by the Ministry of Health.