East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) has unveiled a mental health and suicide prevention strategy as a 'priority' as a response to pressures on staff during the pandemic and cost of living crisis.

The strategy seeks to reduce the rate of suicides within the service and reduce the number of mental health and musculoskeletal absences through early intervention.

A support network for staff who have retired or left the service will also be formed.

Other work includes mental health first aid training and ensuring that the trust collects data on suicides.

At the EMAS board on April 4, the Health, Wellbeing and Suicide Prevention Strategy was approved by members.

Papers stated that the impacts on staff as a result of the Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis have had an impact on wellbeing.

The strategy will be implemented over a three-year period (2023-2026).

EMAS saw an increase in sickness levels during the pandemic and the main reasons given by staff for sickness were anxiety, stress and depression and musculoskeletal absences.

EMAS said it is also introducing a Health Ambassador role to start conversations with staff around general health and wellbeing.

EMAS already offers 24/7 counselling for staff as well as musculoskeletal physiotherapy.

Papers stated that "there is no doubt that staff within our organisation and the Ambulance sector in general operate in an extremely challenging environment which can impact on individual mental health and wellbeing".

Kerry Gulliver, Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development, said: "This strategy was developed in recognition that health and wellbeing is a priority.

"We've taken account of corporate engagement and also staff surveys, workshops with operational staff and trade union colleagues."

Jackie Jones, associate non-executive director, said: "There's a lot of mention of training for managers but how do we enable key members of staff to have difficult conversations which could save people?

"How do we enable everyone to have the confidence to have those conversations?"

Ms Gulliver replied: "We already do that, as part of our mandatory education there is a module around suicide prevention that all staff should do.

"On top of that through resources that we provide, that enable people learn and develop for people to have those sorts of conversations."