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EMSWORLD.com | MAY 2016 33 T h e C o mmuni t y Pa ra m e di c's R o l e them address the needs of mental and behavioral health. With additional education and clinical time to prepare them to provide assistance to this popula- tion, community paramedics can help patients deal with emotional distress resulting from an accident, injury or a sudden shocking event. They have the tools to identify the different signs of stress, observe and document various defense mechanisms, and analyze existing conditions and situations that affect how the patients will react to stressors. They can also provide psychological first aid by meeting the basic physical needs, then the most basic psychological needs of the patient. Further education can be obtained to help deal with the medications of psychosis, addiction or other mental health issues. Understanding the other types of mental health issues can help a CP relate better to patients U tilizing community paramedics in a postacute or chronic disease manage - ment role has been shown to be a real benefit to populations both rural and urban. Today the struggle in almost every community in the United States is access and treatment for mental health issues. Mental illness is a disease that can impact many patients as a significant comorbidity and is a major factor in overall health. There is some mystique around mental health, and it's generally the last thought for most providers. Paramedics and EMTs get very few hours of educa- tion on the subject, didactic or clinical. Yet it is one of the most common issues practitioners face in the field on a daily basis. Community paramedics (CPs) are well positioned to work with patients with mental illness and help Community paramedics can provide psychological first aid by meeting the patient's basic physical needs, then their most basic psychological needs. By Anne Montera, RN, BSN With some extra preparation, CPs are ideally suited to help this vulnerable population in Treating Mental and Behavioral Health Patients Anne Montera is a featured speaker at EMS World Expo, Oct. 3–7, in New Orleans.