A photo-elicitation study of paramedics’ perceptions of mental illness

The number of people with mental illness who are treated by paramedics is increasing and there are a variety of factors that can affect how well this service demand is met. One such factor is paramedics’ perceptions of mental illness. Photo-elicitation was used to explore how paramedics felt about mental illness and to generate new ways of thinking about this important aspect of paramedicine practice and education. Highlighted is that paramedics can feel helpless and under-prepared in treating people with mental illness and that two concepts of ancient Greek origins — aporia and phronesis — offer a useful way forward in thinking about and responding to this.