Ambulance Victoria teams up with Beyond Blue to tackle paramedic suicides

Ambulance Victoria is getting on the front foot to combat the spiralling rate of suicides in the service.

The rate amongst paramedics is the highest of any of the emergency services, with more than 24 deaths in the past 15 years.

Ambulance Victoria has teamed up with Beyond Blue in a $1.2 million program.

Acting CEO Tony Walker told Neil Mitchell it was a far cry from the ‘suck it up’ days when paramedics headed to the pub to deal with their issues.

‘I’ve spoken to paramedics, particularly in country Victoria, and their way of dealing with this issue was to go and get drunk on a Friday night with the local police,’ he said on 3AW Mornings.

‘That takes its toll over time.’

Click PLAY below to hear more on 3AW Mornings