An Augmented Training Program for Preventing Post-Traumatic Stress Injuries Among Diverse Public Safety Personnel

Summary

Public safety personnel (PSP; e.g., border services personnel, correctional workers, firefighters, paramedics, police, public safety communicators) are frequently exposed to potentially psychologically traumatic events. Such events contribute to substantial and growing challenges from posttraumatic stress injuries (PTSIs), including but not limited to posttraumatic stress disorder. The PSP PTSI Study has been designed to evaluate an evidence-informed, proactive system of mental health assessment and training among Royal Canadian Mounted Police (www.rcmpstudy.ca) for delivery among diverse PSP (i.e., firefighters, municipal police, paramedics, public safety communicators). The training is based on the Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders, adapted for PSP, and named Emotional Resilience Skills Training (ERST). The subsequent PSP PTSI Study results are expected to benefit the mental health of all participants and, ultimately, all PSP.

Conditions

• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
• Major Depressive Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Trauma
• Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders
• Vicarious Trauma

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Emotional Resilience Skills Training (ERST)

The ERST training is designed as a "train the trainer" model. Sauer-Zavala, a co-developer of the UP, personally trained a group of PSP trainers from each of the PSP pilot sectors (i.e., CanOps, Regina Fire \& Protective Services, Regina Police Service, Saskatoon Police Service, Regina Emergency Medical Services, Ottawa Emergency Medical Services) during a week-long interactive workshop. The trainers continue to have access to Sauer-Zavala for optional follow-up consultation and support related to delivery of the ERST training for questions or to address any issues that arise during training. Having consultation and support available for the trainers should help to offset concerns raised about ensuring training fidelity subsequent to other mental health programs. Participants have ongoing access to ERST to support skill retention after training is completed, which should help to offset previous indications of problems with skill development for mental health programs.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice and Attorney General

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Association of Public Safety Communication Officials

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Frontenac Paramedic Services

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Ottawa Paramedic Service

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Paramedic Services Chiefs of Saskatchewan

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Peterborough County-City Paramedics

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Regina Fire and Protective Services

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Saskatchewan Health Authority - Regina Area

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Regina

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• R. Nicholas Carleton, PhD · University of Regina

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-09-22

Primary Completion

2024-12-31

Completion

2024-12-31

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations