SHIFT Zine is a new wellbeing resource created by newly qualified paramedics (NQPs) at North East Ambulance Service (NEAS), offering an honest, visually striking look at the emotional realities of stepping onto the frontline.
Blending tactile design with lived experience, the zine explores the anxiety, self‑doubt and vulnerability that often accompany the transition from student to practising clinician – an experience that is both rewarding and, at times, overwhelming.
Created in collaboration with zine‑maker Zoe Thompson and illustrator Fiona Quadri, SHIFT Zine blends bold visuals with honest storytelling to challenge stigma and promote a culture of openness around mental health.
Its pages offer practical strategies for managing wellbeing before, during, and after demanding shifts – supporting NQPs to build confidence and feel less isolated in their early months on the road.
Andy Walton, Staff Psychological Wellbeing Advisor at NEAS, emphasises the importance of this work:
The jump from the classroom to the cab can feel enormous. Many NQPs tell us they expected to feel ready, but the reality of frontline work brings pressures no textbook can fully prepare you for.
SHIFT captures those experiences with honesty and care, and I have to say, it’s one of the best‑designed and most inspiring resources I’ve seen in a very long time.
It reminds our newest clinicians that struggling is not a sign of weakness; it’s a normal part of learning to do an extraordinary job.
Physical copies are being posted to all active NEAS NQPs and shared during training and peer support sessions. A digital version is available here, and SHIFT Zine is now also accessible via ParaPass, the national learning and development platform for paramedics and ambulance staff.
For more details please contact andrew.walton@neas.nhs.uk.
