Current Projects
Summary
Public safety personnel (PSP) are routinely exposed to stressful situations, which increase their risk for negative mental health impacts – including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress injuries. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened many of these stressors and has likely had long-term impacts on their mental health. Despite this, there is a lack of evidence-informed training available for app-based peer supporters on the specific mental health needs of PSP.
Building on existing knowledge, this project aims to:
- Refine and finalize pre-existing PSP cultural competency framework using data from Canadian PSP;
- Adapt a virtual trauma-informed educational (at an appropriate level of training) curriculum to educate app-based peer supporters on the specific needs and experiences of Canadian PSP, which will integrate the cultural competency framework; and,
- Host these training materials online at no cost for future learners.
The Canadian PSP workforce is facing a crisis as an increasing number of personnel are considering leaving the profession. Thus, addressing the mental health needs of PSP is critical to ensuring the sustainability of this workforce, and this project will contribute to peer responders’ ability to provide culturally responsive support to Canadian PSP.
Principle Investigators
Margaret McKinnon and Kim Ritchie, McMaster University and Trent University