Mental health of Royal Canadian Mounted Police after the first year of service

Bibliographic Data

ID21177675
AuthorsR Nicholas Carleton (0000-0002-6083-8935, University of Regina, corresponding author), Katie L Andrews (0000-0002-0376-5290, University of Regina), Taylor A Teckchandani (0000-0002-0997-0893, University of Regina), Juliana M B Khoury (0000-0002-1833-2869, University of Regina), Robyn E Shields (0000-0002-2879-344X, University of Regina), Kirby Q Maguire (0000-0001-7088-8269, University of Regina), Tracie O Afifi (0000-0002-3745-9785, University of Manitoba), Jolan Nisbet (0000-0002-7348-2800, University of Regina), Amber J Fletcher (0000-0001-5965-2925, University of Regina), Shannon Sauer-Zavala (0000-0002-7322-983X, University of Kentucky), Sherry H Stewart (0000-0003-3350-2712, Dalhousie University), Lisa M Lix (0000-0001-8685-3212, University of Manitoba), Kayla M Kirby (0009-0005-0229-254X, University of Regina), Gregory P Krätzig (0000-0003-1604-3729, Learning Partnership), J Patrick Neary (0000-0003-2480-8031, University of Regina), Terence M Keane (0000-0002-0482-3149, Boston University), Alain Brunet (0000-0003-2185-1704, University of the Sunshine Coast), Nicholas A Jones (0000-0002-2791-2478, University of Regina), Jitender Sareen (0000-0001-8573-6495, University of Manitoba), Gordon J G Asmundson (0000-0002-7886-4058, University of Regina)
Year2026
Volume27
Issue2
Pages231-260
Publication date2026-03-04
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolice Practice and Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1561-4263 • E-ISSN: 1477-271X
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/15614263.2025.2566733
OpenAlexW4415245901
LanguageEN
References cited66

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) frequently report symptoms consistent with positive screens for one or more mental health disorders (65%), but RCMP cadets evidence a much lower prevalence (7.3%) prior to deployment. The differences in mental health between cadets and experienced RCMP implicates mental health challenges to be related to service experiences; however, less is known about how mental health changes during the first year of service. The current study examines changes in mental health during the first year of service. At 1-year follow-up, participants (n = 181; 72.8% male) reported higher symptom severity (ds = .09 to .53, all ps < .05) and positive screens (Zs = .05 to 3.32, all ps < .001) for posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, and social anxiety disorder than at pre-deployment. The current results substantiate RCMP mental health challenges begin to develop as early as the first year of service, underscoring the need for continuous evidence-based supports and assessments

Health services · Mental health · Mental health service · Service member · Child Abuse and Trauma · Occupational Health and Performance · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research

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