Presumptive Coverage – Mental Health

  • Paramedics and other PSP (Public Safety Personnel) experience MH challenges at 20-30% higher rates than the general population
  • Presumptive legislation for PTSD has enabled PSP to get help sooner for PTSD
  • Gaps for access to care for people with Depression and Anxiety still exists
  • Gap impacts paramedics more than other PSP due to our reliance on Part time workers who have litt le to no access to employer benefit plans
  • Earlier access to appropriate treatment will decrease loss time and overall disease burden

Presumptive Coverage – Occupation CA

  • Research indicates that Paramedics are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with melanoma
  • Paramedics are almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer versus general public
  • Paramedics are just as likely to suffer kidney cancer as firefighters however Paramedic kidney cancer is not consider occupational
  • Presumptive coverage for occupational cancers should be added to WSIB for paramedics

The Ask

  • To amend the WSIB to include paramedics in presumptive legislation for certain job related mental health illnesses and occupational cancers