Introduction: Mental disorders, including stress, anxiety, and depression, are prevalent among Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workers globally due to their high-stress work environment. Despite the importance of these issues, data on EMS workers’ mental health in Saudi Arabia is scarce. This study assessed the prevalence of these disorders among EMS workers in the Makkah region, providing insights into their well-being. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2024 at the Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA), the Ministry of Health (MOH), and the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA) in the Makkah region. A convenience sample of 352 certified EMS workers, employed for over one year, completed an electronic survey assessing demographic data, lifestyle habits, and mental health using the DASS-21 scale. Descriptive statistics were used, with Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests for bivariate analysis, and logistic and linear regressions for multivariate analysis. Results were significant at p < 0.05. Results: Among the 352 participants, 12.2%, 23.0%, and 17.6% experienced extremely severe stress, anxiety, and depression, respectively. Mann-Whitney U tests showed a significant association between a history of mental illness and severe stress, anxiety, and depression (p < 0.05). However, logistic regression revealed a significant link only to depression. Chi-square tests revealed significant associations between stress, anxiety, and depression levels and several factors. Linear regression indicated that non-communicable disease (NCD) medications increased stress, anxiety, and depression, while more sleep reduced all three. Additionally, years of experience were a significant predictor only for stress, indicating that more experience increased stress levels. Conclusion: This study underscores the high prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression among EMS personnel in the Makkah region, highlighting the influence of NCD medications, sleep duration, years of experience, and the history of mental illness. These results emphasize the urgent need for targeted mental health interventions and support systems for EMS workers.
Alharthi et al. (2026) studied this question.