Mental Disorder Symptoms among Public Safety Personnel in Canada

Bibliographic Data

ID23361007
AuthorsR Nicholas Carleton (0000-0002-6083-8935, University of Regina, corresponding author), Tracie O Afifi (0000-0002-3745-9785, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada), Sarah Turner (0000-0002-6542-8767, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada), Tamara Taillieu (0000-0001-5856-8131, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada), Sophie Duranceau (University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada), Daniel M LeBouthillier (0000-0003-4028-352X, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada), Jitender Sareen (0000-0001-8573-6495, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada), Rosemary Ricciardelli (0000-0002-0905-8968, Memorial University of Newfoundland), Rose Ricciardelli (Memorial University of Newfoundland, Saint John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada), Renée S MacPhee (0000-0001-8791-6270, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada), Dianne Groll (0000-0001-6913-5710, Queen’s University, Kington, Ontario, Canada), Kadie Hozempa (0000-0003-0458-4616, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada), Alain Brunet (0000-0003-2185-1704, Douglas Hospital, Verdun, Quebec, Canada), John R Weekes (Correctional Service of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), Curt T Griffiths (Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada), Kelly J Abrams (Canadian Health Information Management Association, Regina, Canada), Kelly Abrams, Nicholas A Jones (0000-0002-2791-2478, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada), Shadi Beshai (0000-0001-7119-0129, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada), Heidi Cramm (0000-0002-8805-063X, Queen's University), Heidi A Cramm (Queen’s University, Kington, Ontario, Canada), Keith S Dobson (0000-0001-9542-0822, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada), Simon Hatcher (0000-0003-3117-2350, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), Terence M Keane (0000-0002-0482-3149, National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), Sherry H Stewart (0000-0003-3350-2712, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada), Gordon J G Asmundson (0000-0002-7886-4058, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada)
Year2018
Volume63
Issue1
Pages54-64
Publication date2018-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Canadian Journal of Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0706-7437 • E-ISSN: 1497-0015
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0706743717723825
PMID28845686
OpenAlexW2751968906
LanguageEN
Citations received125
References cited68

BACKGROUND: Canadian public safety personnel (PSP; e.g., correctional workers, dispatchers, firefighters, paramedics, police officers) are exposed to potentially traumatic events as a function of their work. Such exposures contribute to the risk of developing clinically significant symptoms related to mental disorders. The current study was designed to provide estimates of mental disorder symptom frequencies and severities for Canadian PSP. METHODS: An online survey was made available in English or French from September 2016 to January 2017. The survey assessed current symptoms, and participation was solicited from national PSP agencies and advocacy groups. Estimates were derived using well-validated screening measures. RESULTS: There were 5813 participants (32.5% women) who were grouped into 6 categories (i.e., call center operators/dispatchers, correctional workers, firefighters, municipal/provincial police, paramedics, Royal Canadian Mounted Police). Substantial proportions of participants reported current symptoms consistent with 1 (i.e., 15.1%) or more (i.e., 26.7%) mental disorders based on the screening measures. There were significant differences across PSP categories with respect to proportions screening positive based on each measure. INTERPRETATION: The estimated proportion of PSP reporting current symptom clusters consistent with 1 or more mental disorders appears higher than previously published estimates for the general population; however, direct comparisons are impossible because of methodological differences. The available data suggest that Canadian PSP experience substantial and heterogeneous difficulties with mental health and underscore the need for a rigorous epidemiologic study and category-specific solutions.

Environmental health · Injury prevention · Mental health · Occupational safety and health · Poison control · Population · Psychiatry · Public health · Suicide prevention · Clinical Psychology · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Medicine · Occupational Health and Performance · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research · Psychology · Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending