paramedics

Rowan County has announced the appointment of a new community paramedic for its HOPE program, according to a press release from the county government. The community paramedic role is aimed at expanding access to care and connecting residents with health and social services outside traditional emergency response. Details about the appointee and the program's plans were included in the county's announcement.

A new push is underway to move first responder mental health from quiet stigma to concrete action. Firefighters, paramedics and police face high rates of trauma, burnout and suicide, and advocates are calling for departments to treat psychological support as seriously as physical safety, with peer programs, training and open conversation.