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Outcomes of internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy tailored for Canadian public safety personnel among Indigenous and White clients
Why was the study done?
Indigenous Peoples and public safety personnel (PSP) are two groups that report very high rates of mental health challenges. Yet, little is known about the mental health of Indigenous PSP and effective support services. This study aims to fill this void by investigating the perceptions and benefits of internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) with Indigenous PSP in comparison to White PSP in Canada.
What was done in the study?
This study included 391 Canadian PSP (8% self-identified Indigenous) who enrolled in either the PSP Wellbeing Course or PSP PTSD Course. Participants completed pre-treatment and 8-week post-enrollment questionnaires to assess their symptoms of anxiety, depression, panic, posttraumatic stress, and social anxiety. Program use, symptom change, and treatment satisfaction were also assessed.
What did we find out?
Indigenous PSP showed elevated pre-treatment mental health concerns (i.e., depression, posttraumatic stress, anger, and panic) than White PSP. Still, no differences were found between ethnic groups with respect to symptom change, program use, or treatment satisfaction. These findings provide preliminary evidence that ICBT can be effective for Indigenous and White PSP alike.
Where do we go from here?
Cultural adaptation is widely understood to enhance effectiveness, engagement, and/or treatment satisfaction. So, this study encourages initiatives to increase Indigenous representation among ICBT programs. Future research is also needed to identify the suitability of ICBT among the world’s many Indigenous Peoples to whom the finings cannot be generalized as well as other racialized populations. Additionally, increased outreach efforts among Indigenous communities are encouraged. Overall, these findings support the use of ICBT among Indigenous PSP.
Original study
Prepared by Taylor, A. & Price, J.A.B.
Putting more mental health resources into the hands of PSP
CIPSRT’S online social commerce site has hit a significant milestone after launching Sept. 3.
As of Nov. 17, the Regina Client Services team has packaged and delivered more than 10,000 individual pieces of mental health support materials to PSP across Canada.
With the click of a button, public safety personnel (PSP) can get resources couriered to their organizations, from brochures and wallet cards to a children’s sticker book. Materials range from general awareness of PSP careers to insights into sleep, anxiety, depression, suicide awareness, and other mental health issues.
The social commerce site uses the principles of e-commerce—with a twist.
When requesters order their free materials, the Client Services team can determine what sectors are ordering and what materials are most popular. This helps inform the development of new materials and allows the team to tailor outreach to the sector who have yet to use the service.
Since the September launch, requests have more than doubled over the same period last year.
The bulk of the orders have gone to Ontario (34%), followed by Alberta (29%) and Saskatchewan (13%). The top sectors using the site include Emergency Health, the RCMP, and Corrections. Top items include sleep cards, followed by a general brochure detailing what mental health resources are available.
Before social commerce, requests came in via email, which wasn’t always efficient. Sometimes an email was overlooked, or the team had difficulty pinpointing which mental health resource was needed. Under social commerce, PSP can see a picture of the item and read a short description, so they know exactly what they’re ordering.
Upcoming plans for the site include more direct printing and shipping of materials from locations across Canada known as dropshipping. This reduces the need to stockpile items in the CIPSRT office.
*If you are interested in ordering CIPSRT’s mental health resources, please note that shipping will take a short break over the holidays. All orders received from Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, up to the evening of Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, will be shipped out on Tuesday, Jan. 6.
CIPSRT and PSPNET attend 18 fall conferences
Teams from CIPSRT and PSPNET crisscrossed the country this fall to share mental health resources and meet the people who help keep Canadians safe.
We attended 18 conferences from the Maritimes to B.C.’s Lower Mainland throughout October and November 2025, meeting first responders and public safety personnel (PSP) and their families. Each touchpoint was real and authentic.
Our hopeful message is helping to de-stigmatize mental health issues and normalize asking for help.
At every stop, we shared evidence-based mental health tools including internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and dozens of printed and digital resources tailored to the unique challenges facing PSP.
Repeated themes like trauma exposure, moral injury, sleep difficulty, burnout, and workplace stress emerged, reminding us how critical it is to make mental health support accessible and stigma-free.
2026 CIPSRT Conference
Back by popular demand! Dr. Colleen Carney’s featured presentation was a hit with 2025 CIPSRT Conference attendees! We’re happy to announce that Dr. Carney will join us in 2026!
Dr. Carney, Director of the Sleep and Depression Laboratory at Toronto Metropolitan University, will be delivering one of the 2026 Conference’s keynote addresses. Among the topics for discussion: the effects of trauma on sleep. We’re looking forward to Dr. Carney bringing their sleep-focused treatment expertise to Calgary – and we’d love to have you join us.
The 2026 CIPSRT Conference is occurring May 5-6, 2026 in Calgary, AB. Registration is open now – don’t miss your chance to secure Early Bird registration rates!
For more details about the Conference, be sure to stay tuned to CIPSRT’s social media channels and the 2026 CIPSRT Conference website .
CIPSRT hosts a network of Academics, Researchers, and Clinicians known as ARCNET. This network has expertise in public safety personnel (PSP) and posttraumatic stress injuries (PTSI). They also have knowledge of organizations and families impacted by PTSI.
ARCNET membership provides a community of practice to:
- Highlight and share relevant research for use in knowledge mobilization efforts
- Identify critical needs, questions, and research gaps on relevant issues
- Identify funding gaps and opportunities
- Support knowledge translation and mobilization efforts with PSP stakeholders
- Support the development and maintenance of evidence-based services for PSP
- Provide specific and reliable expert guidance and insight to PSP stakeholders
- Identify opportunities for advancements that support PSP mental health
Follow this link to learn more and apply to join the ARCNET today!
Book a Presentation for your Team
The CIPSRT and PSPNET teams are ready to support your upcoming events—virtually or in person! Whether you’re organizing a conference, expo, workshop, or team session, our experts deliver engaging, research-informed presentations tailored to public safety personnel.
Examples of our most in-demand presentation topics include:
• Supporting a Colleague – Practical strategies for building a supportive workplace culture.
• Self-Care – Tools and techniques to maintain wellness in high-stress environments.
• Sleep – Evidence-based guidance to improve sleep and overall performance.
• Signs and Symptoms of PTSD – Awareness and understanding to support early intervention.
Presentation slots fill quickly—book now to secure your date.
If you’re interested in arranging a session, or if you know of an upcoming opportunity for our teams to connect with your organization, please contact Communications.CIPSRT@uregina.ca as soon as possible.
Upcoming Online Events
Woodland and wildland firefighting
The 2025 fire season was the second worst on record, and climate scientists warn that back-to-back extreme wildfire seasons are becoming a new normal, increasing demands on wildland and woodland firefighters and other emergency personnel. This December, CIPSRT presents a special two-part series on the impacts of wildfire fighting on public safety personnel.
Thursday, December 4, 2025.
12:00 pm CST | 1:00 pm EST
Register at: https://www.cipsrt-icrtsp.ca/en/knowledge-for-you/online-events
Circle of fire, circle of care: Supporting Indigenous wildland firefighter wellbeing
Thursday, December 11, 2025.
10:00 am CST | 11:00 am EST
Register at: https://www.cipsrt-icrtsp.ca/en/knowledge-for-you/online-events
New Resources for you
Exploring issues impacting PSP families with Garnet Families
- View video recordings of the latest discussions in the Garnet Families Interactive Series : The tired side of service
- View the recent video recording of the latest discussion about Caregiving in Garnet Families
Suicide awareness and prevention
- View a video recording of our September discussion in support of Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, and World Suicide Prevention Day: Supporting first responder and public safety families affected by suicide
- Download a visual summary about the unique factors impacting suicide among first responders and other PSP: Understanding suicide and public safety personnel
- Learn more about an ongoing study piloting the integration of peer-led intervention for PSP with Canada Suicide Prevention Services. View a visual summary: Caring Contacts Peer-led Intervention
New research on peer support
- View a video recording of our joint presentation with the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families: Exploring evidence-informed peer support guidelines for Veterans, military, public safety personnel and their families
- Access the Guidelines here: Peer support guidelines for military, public safety personnel and their Families
Diversity and public safety
- While women, BIPOC, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals are joining public safety occupations in greater numbers, fundamental expectations and organizational cultures around hierarchy, heteronormativity, and hypermasculinity remain largely unchanged. View a visual summary: Navigating underrepresented identities in public safety occupations