Improving Mental Health Knowledge and Reducing Mental Health Stigma Among Public Safety Personnel: Comparison of Live vs. Online Psychoeducation Training Programs

Madeline R. Marks (), Clint Bowers, Deborah C. Beidel, Jordan Ortman and Amie R. Newins
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Madeline R. Marks: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Balitmore, MD 21201, USA
Clint Bowers: Department of Psychology, College of Sciences, University of Central Florid, Orlando, FL 32816, USA
Deborah C. Beidel: Department of Psychology, College of Sciences, University of Central Florid, Orlando, FL 32816, USA
Jordan Ortman: Department of Psychology, College of Sciences, University of Central Florid, Orlando, FL 32816, USA
Amie R. Newins: Department of Psychology, College of Sciences, University of Central Florid, Orlando, FL 32816, USA

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 10, 1-7

Abstract: This study evaluates the effectiveness of a brief psychoeducation training program in reducing mental health stigma, both toward others and oneself, among public safety personnel, while also comparing the relative effectiveness of in-person and online training modalities. In total, 1686 public safety personnel in Florida received psychoeducation on the mental health impacts of public safety work. Participants completed pre- and post-training questionnaires assessing demographics, mental health knowledge, and mental health stigma toward others and themselves. Among the participants, 871 completed the training online, and 44 completed the training in-person. A paired samples t -test assessed changes in knowledge from pre- to post-test, and 2 × 2 repeated measures ANOVAs analyzed stigma-related data. Mental health knowledge increased and mental health stigma toward others decreased post-training, with no differences between training modalities. No changes in mental health self-stigma were found. Police officers reported significantly greater self-stigma than firefighters. Firefighters and dispatchers reported significantly less stigma toward others than police officers. This study found that both in-person and online psychoeducation can similarly improve mental health knowledge and reduce stigma toward others, which may help reduce barriers to seeking care.

Keywords: public safety personnel; first responders; psychoeducation; stigma; stress; brief interventions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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