Lifelines Ambulance

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Whatever your involvement with the Scottish Ambulance Service, these resources are for you. Whether you’re a technician, paramedic, work in control, management or a support role, new recruit or student, retiree, Community First Responder, family member or friend.

AMbulance call centre staff

Below you'll find out more about our resources, what service staff have said about Lifelines, additional videos and the latest news. There’s also a list of the organisations offering support to the ambulance community.

Thank you for everything you do to take care of your fellow citizens. Please look after yourselves and each other.

Get the support you need

Our resources provide you with information and advice across a wide range of subjects...
If you need to talk to someone now or want to find out more about the support available to you and your family, some organisations specific to the Ambulance Service are listed below. There are also services you can access via our Find Help page. 

"Wouldn't it be great if everyone was able to provide Psychological First Aid for their colleagues?"

Ambulance Staff Member

“Lifelines definitely gave me tools to manage my mental health and resilience at work.”

Ambulance Staff Member

Additional videos and resources

Below are some extra service specific videos and resources that you may find helpful...

Support from other organisations

NHS 24 Health and Wellbeing helpline
Trained practitioners at NHS 24 will offer callers a compassionate and empathic listening service based on the principles of psychological first aid, as well as advice, signposting and onward referral to local services if required. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Phone 0800 111 4191.
SAS Wellbeing website
SAS have produced web resources to support the health, selfcare and wellbeing of staff, including a pack - Caring for you as you care for Scotland. You can access them on the SAS intranet or download the pack here.
wellSAS – SAS Mental Health Case Management Service
wellSAS provides support for SAS staff currently absent, or experiencing difficulties attending work due to mental health difficulties.  Support is provided by mental health nurses and customised to suit your needs.  Whether you would simply like to explore your current circumstances and receive support to identify activities or interventions to assist, or whether you require regular and ongoing reviews, they are there to help.  

The SAS Case Manager will provide coaching, self-help materials, assist in identifying and engaging appropriate supportive services and remain an ongoing support to you. The wSA service provides advice for staff members and managers to support remaining in and/or returning to work.  By linking to Occupational Health and SAS EAP ‘Help’ Services they will ensure that all appropriate and beneficial support avenues are available to you. For more information, visit the website or freephone: 0808 196 3919 (Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm).
Employee Assistance Programme
Employee Assistance Programme (HELP) offers an employee counselling service, provided by trained counselling and welfare practitioners. It is available to all Scottish Ambulance Service staff and family members residing at home address. For more information, phone 0800 032 9849 or visit the website.
Occupational Health
Occupational Health provides a confidential service for health or work-related health issues via self-referral or management referral. For more information, phone 0131 275 7890(Option 1)
Chaplain
Deacon Michael Ross offers a confidential listening service to support staff (regardless of religious belief). For more information, phone 07929 012 832.
SAS Retirement Association
SASRA aims to promote the welfare of retired members and their families including proving support through bereavement, ill health or other crisis. They have a chaplain and a counsellor that people can access via the website.
The Ambulance Services Charity (TASC)
The Ambulance Services Charity (TASC) provides support to all currently serving and retired ambulance staff, their families, and ambulance service volunteers. Services include counselling, support with trauma and PTSD, physiotherapy, debt advice, financial grants, bereavement support and general wellbeing advice. To get in touch, freephone 02477 987 922 (open from 8am – 6pm, Monday – Friday. A voicemail service is in place outside of these hours.) or email.
College of Paramedics
The College of Paramedics is the professional body of paramedics and the ambulance profession in the UK. Members can access training, insurance and legal support. Promoting the mental health and wellbeing of paramedics is one of the college’s strategic aims
Unison / There for you
Support and assistance for UNISON members experiencing financial or emotional difficulties. Visit the website for more information.
National Wellbeing Hub
For Scotland’s health and social carers, including unpaid carers. Find information and resources on how to look after yourself, colleagues and loved ones on our website.
Workforce Specialist Service (WSS)
The WSS, delivered by NHS Practitioner Health, is a confidential multidisciplinary mental health service with expertise in treating regulated health and social services professionals. They specialise in caring for regulated professionals as patients, and as such are experts at the interface between regulation, employment and mental illness and addiction.
Sapper Support
Sapper Support is 24/7 PTSD helpline staffed by veterans and 999 personnel. We give emotional and physical support to sufferers of PTSD and other associated mental health issues. We can also speed up the process of recovery by financing that all important diagnosis.

Call 0800 040 7873 / 0800 040 7783 or text 07860018733.

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