Assessing Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) training among correctional workers in Canada

Abstract

Background Mental health frameworks, best practices, and the well-being of public safety personnel in Canada are topics of increasing interest to both researchers and organizations. To protect and improve worker mental health, different training programs have been implemented to serve this population. The Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) training regimen is one such program specialized to build cultural awareness of mental health, reduce stigma, and mitigate the cumulative impacts of exposures to potentially psychologically traumatic events among public safety personnel. However, limited research has been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of R2MR, especially among correctional workers. Methods The current study analyzed 307 open-ended survey responses to four (4) questions about R2MR garnered from 124 Canadian provincial and territorial correctional workers between 2018–2020 to reveal their understandings and perceptions of R2MR training, and to identify what learned skills they found challenging or easy to implement. Results The results suggest that R2MR training plays a significant role in decreasing stigma and increasing mental health awareness. Across jurisdictions, R2MR creates a supportive space for open dialogue around mental health meant to shift cultural and individual barriers that often hinder treatment-seeking. Some respondents also indicated that R2MR was a starting point for intervention. Conclusions Further research is necessary to understand how R2MR and other programs could support the mental health and well-being of correctional workers.

“We must be mentally strong”: exploring barriers to mental health in correctional services

“…Our research also confirms the tensions in many relationships with management ( McKendy et al, 2021 ) and the desire for improved mental health treatment options available to correctional workers ( Johnston et al, 2022b ), especially the desire to include some form of peer support ( Johnston et al, 2021 , 2022a ; Ricciardelli and Carleton, 2022 ). To this point, these findings reiterate the need to sensitize managers and leaders in correctional organizations to the importance of mental health and readiness (see Johnston et al, 2023 ) as well as finding other opportunities (i.e., through technology) to promote mental health awareness, resources, education, treatments, coping skills, work-stress management skills, and so forth to struggling correctional workers ( Paginin and Simbula, 2020 ).…”

“…Further, a cultural environment where discussions about mental health are normalized and in which correctional workers can openly turn to peers and peer supports may help to reduce stigma ( Johnston et al, 2022b , 2023 ). Relatedly, in their survey research of 118 healthcare professionals working for the Italian Health Authority, Paganin et al (2023) found an indirect effect of mental health leadership on teamwork through interpersonal conflict and cooperation, suggesting leadership training and frameworks can positively impact teamwork among workers, particularly amidst crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic (see also Franke et al, 2014 ).…”

Cannabis use among correctional workers in Ontario, Canada: Prevalence, mental health comorbidities, and risk and protective factors associated with cannabis use.

“…Resiliency training for public safety personnel is often used to facilitate help-seeking, primarily through reducing stigma (Krakauer et al, 2020). Results from a qualitative study assessing correctional workers’ perceptions of the Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) training programme suggest that R2MR is effective in reducing stigma and increasing awareness of mental health issues (Johnston et al, 2023). Results from the qualitative study also highlighted the value of peer support and the need for safe, nonjudgemental spaces to discuss mental health issues in the workplace (Johnston et al, 2023).…”

Topik potensial untuk publikasi penelitian kesehatan mental pekerja dengan menggunakan analisis bibliometrik

“…Untuk mengatasi kesulitan kesehatan mental pekerja, perlu untuk memahami unsur-unsur yang mempengaruhi kesehatan mental di tempat kerja dan mengembangkan intervensi yang efektif (Holmes et al 2020;Albott et al 2020;Johnston et al 2023). Penelitian tentang kesehatan mental pekerja dapat memberikan pengetahuan yang lebih baik tentang masalah kesehatan mental di tempat kerja (Giorgi et al 2020;Fisher, Newton, and Sainsbury 2021;LaMontagne et al 2014).…”

“…Untuk menjaga dan meningkatkan kesehatan mental pekerja, banyak program pelatihan telah dibuat. Rejimen pelatihan The Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) adalah salah satu program yang dirancang untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan budaya personel keselamatan publik tentang kesehatan mental, mengurangi stigma, dan membatasi efek kumulatif dari paparan terhadap insiden yang berpotensi menimbulkan stres psikologis (Johnston et al 2023). Pentingnya kesehatan mental dan penanggulangan sebagai prasyarat bagi katalis TI untuk menginspirasi perilaku kerja inovatif di kalangan pekerja jarak jauh (Zaza et al 2023).…”