Vancouver – The Ambulance Paramedics of BC (APBC), the union representing British Columbia’s 6,000 paramedics and dispatchers, is urgently raising the alarm about a profound mental health crisis within the ambulance service, that has led to a record number of paramedic suicides in the first half of 2025.
“We are witnessing unprecedented levels of mental health and wellness claims amongst our members, and now, a significant and heartbreaking increase in suicides,” says Jason Jackson, President of the Ambulance Paramedics of BC. “It’s clear to all of us that we desperately need help, and more importantly, tangible solutions.”
This year, a total of nine paramedics have passed away. While a majority of these deaths were due to health issues or accidents, many of these members died by suicide, deaths that are very likely connected to the immense stressors of their jobs.
Recent reports paint a stark picture: over 30% of paramedics and dispatchers are either off work battling mental health challenges or are continuing to work while receiving treatment.
“These numbers are staggering,” Jackson emphasizes. “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. From the pandemic to the never-ending opioid crisis, and even the devastating heat dome, on top of our already busy regular calls, our members simply never get a break. We understand the commitment we made when we chose this profession, but there has never been a more relentlessly busy period in emergency healthcare for first responders.”
Last year, paramedics responded to nearly one million calls for service across British Columbia, and those numbers continue to climb.
