A Qualitative Analysis of the Mental Health Training and Educational Needs of Firefighters, Paramedics, and Public Safety Communicators in Canada

Liana Lentz, Lorraine Smith-MacDonald, David C. Malloy, Gregory S. Anderson, Shadi Beshai, Rosemary Ricciardelli, Suzette Bremault-Phillips and R. Nicholas Carleton
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Liana Lentz: Department of Philosophy, King’s University College at Western, London, ON N6A 2M3, Canada
Lorraine Smith-MacDonald: Department of Philosophy, King’s University College at Western, London, ON N6A 2M3, Canada
David C. Malloy: Department of Philosophy, King’s University College at Western, London, ON N6A 2M3, Canada
Gregory S. Anderson: Faculty of Science, Thompsons River University, Kamloops, BC V2C 0C8, Canada
Shadi Beshai: Canadian Institute of Public Safety Research and Treatment, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada
Rosemary Ricciardelli: Canadian Institute of Public Safety Research and Treatment, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada
Suzette Bremault-Phillips: Heroes in Mind, Advocacy and Research Consortium, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
R. Nicholas Carleton: Canadian Institute of Public Safety Research and Treatment, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 12, 1-19

Abstract: Background—Public safety personnel (PSP) are at heightened risk of developing mental health challenges due to exposures to diverse stressors including potentially psychologically traumatic experiences. An increased focus on protecting PSP mental health has prompted demand for interventions designed to enhance resilience. While hundreds of available interventions are aimed to improve resilience and protect PSPs’ mental health, research evidence regarding intervention effectiveness remains sparse. Methods—Focus groups with PSP elicited a discussion of psychoeducational program content, preferred modes of program delivery, when such training should occur, and to whom it ought to be targeted. Results—The results of thematic analyses suggest that PSP participants feel that contemporary approaches to improving mental health and resilience are lacking. While welcomed, the provision of sporadic one-off mental health and resilience programs by organizations was seen as insufficient, and the available organizational mental health supports were perceived as being questionable. The available programs also left participants feeling insufficiently prepared to deal with personal mental health problems and in discussing mental health concerns with co-workers. Conclusions—Participants reported needing more engaging methods for delivering information, career-long mental health knowledge acquisition, and a systems approach to improve the workplace culture, particularly regarding mental health.

Keywords: moral injury; public safety personnel; paramedics; firefighters; public safety communicators; mental health; trauma; education; training (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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