In a crisis? Call us anytime day or night on 0300 373 0898
Available 9am – 5pm, Mon – Fri. A voicemail service runs outside of these times.
We’re here to help anyone who’s experiencing suicidal thoughts. We’ll never pressure you to talk, and we’ll never judge you. However, it can be incredibly hard to pick up the phone and ask for help, especially if you don’t know what to expect. If you call us, here’s what will happen:
1. Your call will be picked up by a qualified counsellor or a person trained in Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS)
2. You will be asked for your name, location, job role and a phone number.
3. The call taker will then give you their name and ask why you’ve called the service.
Following these steps, a counsellor will talk to you about your current circumstances, how you’re feeling and actions that can be taken to keep yourself safe.
We know the likelihood of an ambulance being called can put you off contacting a service like ours. That’s why our call takers are qualified clinicians with experience of helping people in the blue light services.
When you call, their first priority will be to help stabilise you and keep you safe before beginning a specialist programme to provide ongoing support. Options like sectioning or calling an ambulance are available to our call takers but they will always be an absolute last resort.
The service is also completely independent and confidential, and nothing will be shared with your employer or colleagues, even if they referred you.
This service is for anyone who is serving or has served in an ambulance service. This includes dispatch workers, control room workers, fleet crew, maintenance workers, team leaders and operations managers, technicians, paramedics, ambulance practitioners, office staff and admin (to name a few).
The service is open to anyone in an NHS or independent ambulance service in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
This service is completely independent and confidential. Nothing you tell us will be shared with your employer, colleagues or loved ones – even if they referred you.
However, if during the call we become aware that there is a threat of harm or risk to anyone else, we have a duty of care to disclose the information to the appropriate authorities.
If you’re worried about a colleague or loved one, you can refer them to us by giving them our phone number: 0300 373 0898.
In just one year, TASC were contacted by 213 ambulance staff members who were experiencing suicidal thoughts? If you’re worried about your mental health, you’re not alone. TASC is here to help.
Need Help? Contact us now
Jessica, Urgent Care Assistant, Wales
Stephen, Emergency Care Assistant, North West
Leanne, Paramedic, London
TASC, The Ambulance Staff Charity, is the national charity dedicated to supporting the mental, physical and financial wellbeing of the UK’s ambulance community. Ambulance staff represent the very best of us and we exist to provide a vital lifeline during their time of need by providing tailored-services such as:
Counselling
Support for trauma and PTSD
Bereavement support
Financial guidance
Physiotherapy and physical rehabilitation
Learn more about our services
As a charity, we rely on your support and generosity to continue being here for ambulance staff in their time of need. Please make a donation today, and help provide a helping hand to ambulance staff when they’re struggling.
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There are many ways to support our cause, such as:
All photos on this page are of models or volunteers. While the stories and quotes on this page are real, we have changed this individual’s details to protect their identity.