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The power of self-care and empathy

A paramedic shares how the opioid epidemic triggered a mental health crisis, and how emotional care has helped

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By OC87 Recovery Diaries

OC87 Recovery Diaries is an interactive website that features stories of mental health, empowerment and change.

In this segment, Ian Stoddart, a paramedic for 32 years, advocates practicing empathy for positive mental health. This is his first responder recovery story. For Ian, a particularly tragic call involving a young woman’s death by drug overdose triggered his mental health crisis.

Self-care and empathy were keys to his recovery. Now, as Ian teaches EMTs and paramedics, empathy and emotional care are priorities in his curriculum.

“Emotional care is 90% of a paramedic’s job. That’s how it should be,” Ian says, “but that gets lost sometimes.” Read more of Ian’s story as a paramedic here.

Read next: 5 things EMS providers should know about seeking mental health treatment

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