I work as the Consultant Paramedic for Education for the North West Ambulance Service and as a director for TRiM Training and Consultancy. In 2016 I began to recognise the lack of mental health support available to frontline emergency workers in the ambulance service following attendance at a difficult incident. I had a number of close colleagues die due to suicide and others who had to leave the service due to the effect on their mental health. This prompted me to embark on a journey of research to seek out options available to provide mental health support.

Having seen the importance of supporting emergency workers, I was keen to ensure an awareness of the different strategies used. To make the most of my Fellowship I travelled to the USA, as the way their emergency ambulance service is organised means you can visit a number of different organisations in a small area. I split my trip into two legs in order to visit the maximum number of areas and to fit around my other commitments. I witnessed different tools being used and have shared these ideas with stakeholders within the ambulance world.

My Fellowship is one of the proudest achievements in my life.