B.C. paramedics in crisis: Deaths by suicide soar as a third receiving mental health treatment

B.C.’s ambulance paramedics are seeing a disturbing spike in suicide deaths among their members.

The union representing British Columbia’s paramedics is addressing a disturbing surge in deaths by suicide among their members, and say that as a profession they “desperately need help.”

In a statement, The Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. says there have been“a record number of paramedic suicides in the first half of 2025.” However, they say online rumours that nine members have died by suicide this year is inaccurate, and the “majority” of deaths were due to health issues or accidents.

Ian Tait, the communication director for APBC, said they normally might see one death by suicide per year, but there have been four so far in 2025.

“We’re looking for is joint inquiry with (B.C. Emergency Health Services) and the provincial government,” he said. “We want to come up with solutions, not so much blame, to see what we can do to help our members come forward when they need help.”

BCEHS is not committing to an inquiry, and in a statement to CTV News said it has only been able to confirm two deaths, not four.

The union points out more than 30 per cent of their members continue to work as they receive mental health treatment, while others are off due to the stressors of the job.

Read more: B.C. health-care workers at ‘breaking point’ seeking mental help in growing numbers

“These numbers are staggering,” said union president, Jason Jackson, said in a press release. “We’re deeply concerned that these figures are lagging indicators of the extreme workload, chronic understaffing, and an increase in call volumes our members face daily.”

Stigma around seeking help

Despite their profession being widely recognized as being among the most challenging, both physically and emotionally, some paramedics and dispatchers don’t make use of the resources currently available to them.

“There’s a lot of people who can’t even say the words ‘mental health’ because of that shame and guilt,” said APBC health and wellness co-ordinator, Nicki Ropp. “We know now that it sometimes takes up to 30 days to metabolize and process the trauma that you’ve seen, if not longer than that.”

She pointed out that the stigma is easing and there’s now a recognition that first responders don’t actually “leave their work at work” and that’s why they now have a route for family members to report unusual behaviour to the Critical Incident Stress Team, who will reach out to the worker.

“What’s happened in B.C. with the opioid crisis, and the pandemic, and the heat dome, and the flooding and the wildfires, and amongst all of that are staffing shortages that we have are compounding all of these things and perhaps not taking the time that we need,” Ropp said.

A difficult problem to solve

The Chief Operating Officer of BCEHS told CTV News that ambulance paramedics and dispatchers are facing the same challengesas the rest of the health-care system.

“They’re under incredible pressure right now, the call volume is significant,” said Jennie Helmer. “What we’re going through right now, it is it is deeply personal and it’s very challenging and what we really ask is for understanding and compassion and support as we all work through this together and recognize where we do need to do better.”

B.C. Emergency Health Services has been on a hiring blitz in recent years, scrambling to shore up the number of paramedics after the provincial government scrapped standby pay and tenuous working conditions in smaller communities and established more permanent, full-time positions.

Read more: B.C. health authority posts hundreds of job openings for paramedics after months of shortages

They have had mixed results, with ambulances continuing to sit empty – sometimes even in the Lower Mainland – with staffing levels failing to keep up with high call volumes and a growing population.

Read more: B.C. paramedics issue ‘public safety alert,’ say ambulance staffing ‘approaching critical levels’

If you or someone you know is in crisis, here are some resources that are available:

• Suicide Crisis Helpline (988)
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (1-800-463-2338)
• Crisis Services Canada (1-833-456-4566, or 45645 by text)
• Kids Help Phone [phone])
• If you need immediate assistance, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital