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

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.

Causes of stress and poor mental health in paramedicine students: A cross-cultural qualitative investigation in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom

“…Interventions at the university level could help students obtain greater awareness of their speciality before enrolling. Moreover, our participants mentioned the importance of communication within the speciality to effectively deal with challenges affecting their wellbeing, similar toLentz et al (2022).ImplicationsThis study is one of the rst qualitative studies to explore contributors to mental health problems in non-western paramedicine students. Our ndings suggest that students need greater access to information about health-related specialities before choosing paramedicine.…”

Ethical aspects of the work conditions of public safety personnel: a need for attention and solidarity

“…The difficulties encountered on the job are also normalized to fit the mentality that the individual “signed up for this” and therefore should not complain (Smith-MacDonald et al, 2021 ). Additionally, the attribution of PSP identity often spills over into civilian life, for example, when PSP experience compassion fatigue because they are hardened by what they see on the job (Lentz et al, 2022 ). A related phenomenon is the shift in fundamental values that PSP often experience throughout their career, resulting from job-related demands and conditions (Szeto et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Deliberative and participatory exercises on the moral aspects of mental health in which PSP are empowered to talk about and act upon lived moral difficulties are rare. Some studies highlight the need for dialogue between researchers and PSP and use deliberative strategies in their own methodology (Lentz et al, 2022 ). Beyond this, the input of PSP is infrequently sought in the development of research or programs targeting them.…”

“…The R2MR program was launched in 2013 and aims to reduce stigma among and improve the resiliency of frontline staff. However, the lack of PSP input in such programs may contribute to their limited benefits (Fikretoglu et al, 2019 ; Lentz et al, 2022 ).…”

“…However, it has also brought awareness to problems linked to public safety professions. In particular, the strain on PSP mental health is becoming the focus of recent research as new programs and strategies are being developed and implemented at individual and organizational levels (Knaak et al, 2019 ; Lentz et al, 2022 ; Szeto et al, 2019 ).…”