Browsing by Author "Ricciardelli, Rosemary"

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Open Access
A Canadian national study of provincial and territorial correctional workers' suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts
(Wiley, 2024-09-14) Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Carleton, R. Nicholas; Johnston, Matthew S.; Dorniani, Sahar; Taillieu, Tamara L.; Afifi, Tracie O.
AbstractCorrectional workers (CWs) endure several operational stressors (e.g., exposures to potentially psychologically traumatic events) and organisational stressors (e.g., shift work, staff shortages), which are associated with positive screens for mental disorders and self‐reports of suicidal behaviours and thus urgently warrant further inquiry. The Canadian Provincial and Territorial Correctional Worker Mental Health and Well‐Being Study (CWMH) used an online survey to collect data from Canadian correctional service organisations across all 13 provinces and territories. This national Canadian study investigates suicidal behaviours among CWs across diverse occupational roles and provincial and territorial jurisdictions (n = 3740, 50.1% female). The results estimated prevalence proportions for self‐reported past‐year and lifetime suicidal thoughts, planning, and attempts across the 13 Canadian provincial and territorial correctional systems, with the exceptions of past‐year suicidal planning in Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Yukon where jurisdictional considerations and requests precluded the inclusion of select questions. Substantial proportions of participants reported past‐year or lifetime suicidal ideation (i.e., 9.1%, 29.2%, respectively), planning (i.e., 4.1%, 14.7%, respectively), or attempts (i.e., 0.8%, 7.2%, respectively). Sociodemographic variables (i.e., sex, age, marital status, total years of service, occupational category) were associated with past‐year and lifetime suicidal behaviours. Findings provide opportunities for future research and can inform tailored efforts by clinicians, service providers, and organisational leaders to support proactive interventions and treatments, including supporting the partners and families of CWs, fostering social support networks, and improving access to timely mental health treatment.
Open Access
Assessing Relative Stressors and Mental Disorders among Canadian Provincial Correctional Workers
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2021-09-23) Konyk, Katy; Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Taillieu, Tamara L.; Afifi, Tracie O.; Groll, Dianne; Carleton, R. Nicholas
In the current study, we quantified the mean stress levels of 43 occupational stressors for 868 Correctional Workers (CWs) and analyzed the relationships between occupational stressors, exposure to potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTEs), and mental health disorders. Our findings emphasize the importance of the occupational environment in relation to CW mental health and indicate that occupational stressors (e.g., staff shortages, inconsistent leadership style, bureaucratic red tape) are more salient contributors to CW mental health than exposure to PPTEs. Finding strategies to ameliorate staff shortages, improve leadership style and communication, and support CWs to maintain physical, mental, and social well-being would be interventions tied to significant organizational and operational stressors within the current study.
Open Access
Assessing the impact of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) protocol and Emotional Resilience Skills Training (ERST) among diverse public safety personnel
(BMC, 2022-12-09) Carleton, R. Nicholas; McCarron, Michelle; Krätzig, Gregory P.; Sauer-Zavala, Shannon; Neary, J. Patrick; Lix, Lisa M.; Fletcher, Amber J.; Camp, Ronald D.; Shields, Robyn, E.; Jamshidi, Laleh; Nisbet, Jolan; Maguire, Kirby Q.; MacPhee, Renée, S.; Afifi, Tracie O.; Jones, Nicholas A.; Martin, Ronald, R.; Sareen, Jitender; Brunet, Alain; Beshai, Shadi; Anderson, Gregory S.; Cramm, Heidi; MacDermid, Joy C.; Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Rabbani, Rasheda; Teckchandani, Taylor A.; Asmundson, Gordon J.G.
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.
Open Access
Assessing the Relative Impact of Diverse Stressors among Canadian Coast Guard and Conservation and Protection Officers
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2022-12-07) Andrews, Katie L.; Jamshidi, Laleh; Nisbet, Jolan; Teckchandani, Taylor A.; Price, Jill A.B.; Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Anderson, Gregory S.; Carleton, R. Nicholas
Public Safety Personnel (PSP), including members of the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) and Conservation and Protection (C&P) officers, are regularly exposed to potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTEs) and other occupational stressors (organizational and operational stressors). The current study quantified occupational stressors among CCG and C&P and assessed relationships with PPTEs and mental health disorders. Participants (n = 341; 58.4% male) completed an online survey assessing self-reported occupational stressors, PPTEs, and mental health disorder symptoms. CCG and C&P Officers reported significantly lower mean overall and item-level organizational and operational stress scores compared to other Canadian PSP. Mean operational stress scores were statistically significantly associated with increased odds of screening positive for all mental disorders and organizational stress scores were statistically significantly associated with increased odds of screening positive for all mental disorders except social anxiety disorder. Participants reported several item-level occupational stressors associated with screening positive for posttraumatic stress disorder, general anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and alcohol use disorder, even after accounting for diverse PPTE exposures. Exposure to PPTEs may be a regular part of employment for CCG and C&P PSP; however, bureaucratic red tape, staff shortages, excessive administrative duties, physical conditioning, healthy eating, and fatigue are occupational stressors that appear significantly related to mental health. Ongoing mental health efforts are needed to mitigate and manage the impact of occupational stressors among CCG and C&P.
Open Access
Assessing the Relative Impact of Diverse Stressors Among Public Safety Personnel
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2020-02-14) Carleton, R. Nicholas; Afifi, Tracie O.; Taillieu, Tamara L.; Turner, Sarah; Mason, Julia, E.; Ricciardelli, Rosemary; McCreary, Donald, R.; Vaughan, Adam D.; Anderson, Gregory S.; McCreary, Rachel; Donnelly, Elizabeth, A.; Camp, Ronald D.; Groll, Dianne; Cramm, Heidi; MacPhee, Renée, S.; Griffiths, Curt T.
Public Safety Personnel (PSP; e.g., correctional workers and officers, firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and public safety communications officials (e.g., call center operators/dispatchers)) are regularly exposed to potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTEs). PSP also experience other occupational stressors, including organizational (e.g., staff shortages, inconsistent leadership styles) and operational elements (e.g., shift work, public scrutiny). The current research quantified occupational stressors across PSP categories and assessed for relationships with PPTEs and mental health disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression). The participants were 4820 PSP (31.7% women) responding to established self-report measures for PPTEs, occupational stressors, and mental disorder symptoms. PPTEs and occupational stressors were associated with mental health disorder symptoms (ps < 0.001). PSP reported substantial difficulties with occupational stressors associated with mental health disorder symptoms, even after accounting for diverse PPTE exposures. PPTEs may be inevitable for PSP and are related to mental health; however, leadership style, organizational engagement, stigma, sleep, and social environment are modifiable variables that appear significantly related to mental health.
Open Access
Canadian Provincial and Territorial Correctional Worker Mental Health and Well-Being Study (CWMH): Navigating Practical and Unanticipated Methodological Challenges
(SAGE Publications, 2024-10-08) Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Andres, Elizabeth; Johnston, Matthew S.; Taillieu, Tamara L.; Dorniani, Sahar; Carbonell, Marina; Bennett, Brittany; Hozempa, Kadie; Coulling, Ryan; Cassiano, Marcella Siqueira; Afifi, Tracie O.; Carleton, R. Nicholas
Previous research assessing correctional worker (CW) mental health has seldom assessed for differences based on jurisdiction or diverse occupational categories. The current study was designed to provide a nuanced quantitative examination of mental health disorder prevalence and related problems among CWs and to qualitatively explore the varying social contexts surrounding CW well-being. We reflect on how we overcame unanticipated challenges and disruptions (e.g., technology, COVID-19 pandemic) throughout the design, launch, and analysis of the survey, and illustrate how our national study, driven by a rigorous methodological approach and collaborative research design, builds on the extant CW mental health and wellness literature.
Open Access
Canadian Public Safety Personnel (PSP) and Occupational Stressors: How PSP Interpret Stressors on Duty
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2020-07-01) Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Czarnuch, Stephen; Carleton, R. Nicholas; Gacek, James; Shewmake, James
Canadian public safety personnel (e.g., correctional workers, firefighters) experience potential stressors as a function of their occupation. Occupational stressors can include organizational (e.g., job context) and operational (e.g., job content) elements. Operational stressors (e.g., exposures to potentially psychologically traumatic events) may be inevitable, but opportunities may exist to mitigate other occupational stressors for public safety personnel. Research exploring the diverse forms of stress among public safety personnel remains sparse. In our current qualitative study we provide insights into how public safety personnel interpret occupational stressors. We use a semi-grounded thematic approach to analyze what public safety personnel reported when asked to further comment on occupational stress or their work experiences in two open-ended comment fields of an online survey. We provide a more comprehensive understanding of how public safety personnel experience occupational stress and the stressors that are unique to their occupations. Beyond known operational stressors, our respondents (n = 1238; n = 828) reported substantial difficulties with organizational (interpersonal work relationship dynamics; workload distribution, resources, and administrative obligations) and operational (vigilance, work location, interacting with the public) stressors. Some operational stressors are inevitable, but other occupational stressors can be mitigated to better support our public safety personnel.
Open Access
CCWORK Protocol: The longitudinal study of Canadian Correctional Workers’ Wellbeing, Organizations, Roles and Knowledge
(BMJ Publishing Group, 2021-10-26) Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Andres, Elizabeth; Mitchell, Meghan; Quirion, Bastien; Groll, Dianne; Adorjan, Michael; Cassiano, Marcella Siqueira; Shewmake, James; Herzog-Evans, Martine; Moran, Dominique; Spencer, Dale, C.; Genest, Christine; Czarnuch, Stephen; Gacek, James; Cramm, Heidi; Maier, Katharina; Phoenix, Jo; Weinrath, Michael; MacDermid, Joy C.; McKinnon, Margaret; Haynes, Stacy; Arnold, Helen; Turner, Jennifer; Eriksson, Anna; Heber, Alexandra; Anderson, Gregory S.; MacPhee, Renée, S.; Carleton, R. Nicholas
Introduction Knowledge about the factors that contribute to the correctional officer’s (CO) mental health and well-being, or best practices for improving the mental health and well-being of COs, have been hampered by the dearth of rigorous longitudinal studies. In the current protocol, we share the approach used in the Canadian Correctional Workers’ Well-being, Organizations, Roles and Knowledge study (CCWORK), designed to investigate several determinants of health and well-being among COs working in Canada’s federal prison system.
Open Access
Correctional Work: Reflections Regarding Suicide
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2021-04-17) Genest, Christine; Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Carleton, R. Nicholas
The Public Health Agency of Canada declared suicide a public health problem in Canada (2016). Employees working in correctional services, researchers find, experience high rates of life-time suicidal ideation in comparison to other public safety professionals and the general population. Suicide behaviours (i.e., ideation, planning, attempts, death) are a multifactorial phenomenon, explained in part by the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide that suggests attempted suicide is facilitated by perceived burdensomeness, a lost sense of belonging, a feeling of hopelessness, and a progressively reduced fear of death, as well as capacity and planning to engage a lethal attempt. In the current study, we unpack the factors that can influence suicide behaviours as reported by correctional workers. Our intent is to make explicit the experiences of a small sample (n = 25) of correctional workers in relation to suicidal behaviours, highlighting stories of recovery and acknowledging the importance of facilitating psychologically safe workplaces. Analysis entailed an inductive semi-grounded emergent theme approach. Participants identified certain risk factors as being able to induce suicidal ideation, such as marital or family problems as well as difficulties at work (i.e., bullying or difficult working conditions). Having children and a partner may act as factors preventing suicide for those with ideation. Participants sought help from professionals, such as their family doctor, a psychologist, or the Employee Assistance Program (EAP); however, the lack of perceived organisational supports and recognition of the issue of suicide by the employer are two elements that can hinder the search for help.
Open Access
Differences in Mental Health, Help-Seeking, and Barriers to Care between Civilians and Sworn Members Working in Law Enforcement: A Research Note.
(Springer, 2021-02-27) Martin, Krystle; Siddiqui, Alifa; Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Lentz, Liana; Carleton, R. Nicholas
Recent Canadian research indicates 44.5% of public safety personnel (PSP) self-report symptoms consistent with at least one type of mental disorder; however, researchers have typically not focused on the mental wellness of civilians working within PSP sectors. Given that the number of civilians working in Canadian law enforcement organizations has doubled since 2003, with more than 30% of all police personnel in Canada being civilians, more research is needed to support this understudied sub-population within law enforcement. The current study used a survey to compare civilian members (n = 80) and sworn (n = 112) police officers working within a law enforcement organization on issues regarding mental disorders, perceived barriers to care and help-seeking behaviours. Results indicate that civilian members self-report a high prevalence of mental disorders and lower resilience compared with police officers in the same organization. Civilians reported similar barriers to accessing mental health compared with police officers but were less likely to indicate willingness to access supports within their place of employment. Our results support the need for equitable access to mental health resources for civilian staff working within law enforcement organizations.
Open Access
Exploring Gender-Based Violence in Canadian Prisons: A Scoping Review
(2023-06-13) Gacek, James; Lemoine, Jocelyne; Phillips, Breeann; Langlois, Julianne; Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Spencer, Dale C.
Background In Canada, prison policies, programs, and practices have been shaped by the historical influences of sex-segregated prisons (i.e., not gender segregated; see Ricciardelli and Bartlett, 2022). Nevertheless, sex segregation has not “stopped” gender-based violence from occurring in prisons. There continues to be risk and security concerns for gender-based violence, including but not limited to 2SLGBTQIA+ people who experience such violence from other prisoners and other correctional staff. As such, our purpose was to review the literature on gender-based violence in Canadian prisons, with an eye to policy, to offer suggested considerations for pathways forward. Objectives We sought to map the existing literature on gender-based violence in Canadian prisons. Our guiding research question is: What is the existing literature on prison policies, programs, and practices that have contributed (and continue to contribute) to the historical and contemporary exclusion, marginalization, and gender-based violence of people of diverse gender identifications? Results Forty-seven articles (n = 47) met the criteria for inclusion in the review. Most articles included in the review originate from the USA (n=34). The remaining articles originate from Canada (n=6), Australia (n=3), the United Kingdom (n=3), and Israel (n=1). Key messages Violence against female and gender diverse persons in prison contexts remain an ongoing issue. Historically, prison policies denied transgender (herein ‘trans’) people who are incarcerated access to proper healthcare and overlooked gender identity. Today, gender identity and lived experience are important factors to consider in the placement of trans people who are incarcerated. Rehabilitative programming and services for female and gender diverse people in prison contexts should remain accessible. Methodology The Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) methodological framework for scoping reviews is used to identify, describe, and summarize the literature. Several databases were searched for relevant literature including Policy Commons Open Access; Canadian Electronic Library from Canada Commons; HeinOnline Government, Politics & Law in Canada; PsycINFO; Criminal Justice Abstracts; Sociological Abstracts, JSTOR, Web of Science, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, and the Government of Canada website. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist (Tricco et al., 2018) for complete and transparent reporting on the conduct of the literature review.
Open Access
Exposures to Potentially Psychologically Traumatic Events among Canadian Coast Guard and Conservation and Protection Officers
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2022-11-16) Andrews, Katie L.; Jamshidi, Laleh; Nisbet, Jolan; Teckchandani, Taylor A.; Price, Jill A.B.; Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Anderson, Gregory S.; Carleton, R. Nicholas
Canadian Public Safety Personnel (PSP) (i.e., municipal/provincial police, firefighters, paramedics, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, correctional workers, dispatchers) report frequent and varied exposures to potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTEs). Exposure to PPTEs may be one explanation for the symptoms of mental health disorders prevalent among PSP. The objective of the current study was to provide estimates of lifetime PPTE exposures among Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) and Conservation and Protection (C&P) Officers and to assess for associations between PPTEs, mental health disorders, and sociodemographic variables. Participants (n = 412; 55.3% male, 37.4% female) completed an online survey assessing self-reported PPTE exposures and self-reported symptoms of mental health disorders. Participants reported higher frequencies of lifetime exposures to PPTEs than the general population (all ps < 0.001) but lower frequencies than other Canadian PSP (p < 0.5). Several PPTE types were associated with increased odds of positive screens for posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, general anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and alcohol use disorder (all ps < 0.05). Experiencing a serious transportation accident (77.4%), a serious accident at work, home, or during recreational activity (69.7%), and physical assault (69.4%) were among the PPTEs most frequently reported by participants. The current results provide the first known information describing PPTE exposures of CCG and C&P members, supporting the growing evidence that PPTEs are more frequent and varied among PSP and can be associated with diverse mental health disorders.
Open Access
Fit for public safety: Informing attitudes and practices tied to the hiring of public safety personnel
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2019-09-25) Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Andres, Elizabeth; Kaur, Navjotpal; Czarnuch, Stephen; Carleton, R. Nicholas
Recent recognition that public safety personnel (PSP) have a high prevalence of mental disorders has initiated a discussion around PSP mental readiness for their work. The discussions have raised new interest in potential protective factors or characteristics of PSP that may be identifiable at recruitment and used to mitigate mental disorders among high-exposure occupations. We draw on a pan-Canada study of mental disorder prevalence to understand the personal characteristics and factors that a sample of active PSP believe will impact the occupational success of recruits. We situate our work within the broader discussion of the expression of a shared responsibility between PSP recruits and PSP organizations, exploring how PSP perceive and describe hiring practices across public safety occupations. Our results indicate that accountability is currently placed on individual PSP to fully understand, in advance, the complexities and pressures inherent to their occupation. Accordingly, participants expressed a need for more scrupulous screening processes designed to recruit candidates who are ‘fit’ for the job, along with a belief that some recruits could be considered ‘unfit’ for employment, such as persons without an innate mental capability for PSP work. Cautions around unpacking the consequences versus ‘perceived’ need to properly screen individuals for their suitability as a PSP are discussed as well as the expressed co-responsibility of potential PSP and PSP organizations during hiring to learn about the job as a means to improve the mental health and wellbeing of the future PSP workforce.
Open Access
Health of Canadian Firefighters: The Impact of Sleep and Work
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute,, 2021-12-16) Cramm, Heidi; Richmond, Rachel; Jamshidi, Laleh; Edgelow, Megan; Groll, Dianne; Ricciardelli, Rosemary; MacDermid, Joy C.; Keiley, Michael; Carleton, R. Nicholas
Volunteer and career firefighters are at risk of major depressive disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol use disorder, and other mental health disorders due to the demanding and unpredictable nature of their employment. The mental health risks are exacerbated by the need to work extended hours, night shifts, and/or rotating schedules, or the competing demands of other employment, especially in volunteer firefighters. The mental health disorders and risk factors interact with altered sleeping patterns. In the current study, we examined volunteer and career firefighters regarding the association between mental health and sleep, drawing from a national Canadian mental health survey of 1217 firefighters. Most (69%) of the firefighters reported less than ideal sleep quality and 21% screened positive for clinical insomnia, with no significant difference between volunteer and career subgroups. Firefighters with insomnia had higher odds ratios (OR) and frequencies for PTSD (OR = 4.98), generalized anxiety disorder (OR = 7.15), panic disorder (OR = 6.88), social phobia (OR = 4.98), and major depressive disorder (OR = 7.91), than firefighters without insomnia. The burden of sleep disorders and their association with mental health disorders suggests that sleep should be considered in health monitoring and self-management, environmental design, fire service work-organization policies, and health programming.
Open Access
Institutional betrayal and trauma in child welfare workers in Western Canada
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2023-02) Boughner, Emily Nicole; Klest, Bridget; Loutzenhiser, Lynn; Asmundson, Gordon; Kikulwe, Daniel; Ricciardelli, Rosemary
Child welfare workers report a high prevalence of mental health concerns, such as posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms, after directly or indirectly experiencing workplace traumatic events (Regehr et al., 2000, 2004). Factors within an organization, such as supportive administrators, supervisors, and coworkers (Boyas et al., 2012; Dagan et al., 2016) can impact reported mental health symptoms. Institutional betrayal research, as an extension of betrayal trauma theory, suggests that institutions play a role in impacting the development and severity of mental health symptoms in individuals who are dependent on them. Institutional betrayal, the actions or inactions of an institution when responding to a traumatic event, has been used to explain how organizational factors impact mental health symptoms in different settings (Smith et al., 2016; Smith & Freyd, 2013). To date, there has been no specific measurement of institutional betrayal linking child welfare organizations to the mental health and professional well-being of child welfare workers, after a workplace traumatic event occurs. The purpose of the current study was to explore this relationship in Canadian child welfare workers. Using a mixed-method approach was used, 70 child welfare workers in Saskatchewan and Alberta completed surveys about workplace traumatic events, mental health and professional well-being, and institutional betrayal and support. Thirteen child welfare workers in frontline and supervisory positions participated in semi-structured interviews to gather further information about mental health and professional well-being after workplace traumatic events. The survey data showed how institutional support was significantly related to professional well-being, such that workers who reported higher levels of institutional support also reported higher levels of professional well-being. ii Experiences of workplace traumatic events were significantly related to institutional betrayal, such that workers who reported direct exposure to workplace traumatic events also reported higher levels of institutional betrayal. Additionally, child welfare workers reported experiences of traumatic events at a prevalence similar to first responder professions (Regehr, Chau, et al., 2002; Regehr, Goldberg, et al., 2002; Van Ameringen et al., 2008). Using thematic analysis, three major themes were identified in the interview data: traumatic and stressful workplace experiences, mental health and professional well-being, and organizational responses. The experiences child welfare workers reported through survey and interview data fit within an institutional betrayal lens. Workers reported feeling distrustful and/or let down by their organizations after workplace traumatic events occurred, which was identified as impacting their mental health and professional wellness. Implications and workplace considerations are discussed, such as organizations increasing worker awareness of mental health and professional well-being supports and providing long-term and ongoing supports. The current research is the first to show that the workplace traumatic events and mental health and professional well-being of child welfare workers can be understood through the theoretical orientation of institutional betrayal.
Open Access
“It is difficult to always be an antagonist”: Ethical, professional, and moral dilemmas as potentially psychologically traumatic events among nurses in Canada.
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2022-01-27) Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Johnston, Matthew S.; Bennett, Brittany; Stelnicki, Andrea, M.; Carleton, R. Nicholas
We explore social and relational dynamics tied to an unexplored potentially psychologically traumatic event (PPTE) that can impact nurses’ well-being and sense of their occupational responsibilities: namely, the moral, ethical, or professional dilemmas encountered in their occupational work. Design: We used a semi-constructed grounded theory approach to reveal prevalent emergent themes from the qualitative, open-ended component of our survey response data as part of a larger mixed-methods study. Methods: We administered a national Canadian survey on nurses’ experiences of occupational stressors and their health and well-being between May and September 2019. In the current study, we analyzed data from four open text fields in the PPTE section of the survey. Results: In total, at least 109 participants noted that their most impactful PPTE exposure was a moral, professional, and/or ethical dilemma. These participants volunteered the theme as a spontaneous addition to the list of possible PPTE exposures. Conclusions: Emergent theme analytic results suggest that physicians, other nurses, staff, and/or the decision-making power of patients’ families can reduce or eliminate a nurse’s perception of their agency, which directly and negatively impacts their well-being and may cause them to experience moral injury. Nurses also report struggling when left to operationalize patient care instructions with which they disagree. Impact: Nurses are exposed to PPTEs at work, but little is known about factors that can aggravate PPTE exposure in the field, impact the mental wellness of nurses, and even shape patient care. We discuss the implications of PPTE involving moral, professional, and ethical dilemmas (i.e., potentially morally injurious events), and provide recommendations for nursing policy and practice.
Open Access
Longitudinal study of Canadian correctional workers' wellbeing, organizations, roles and knowledge (CCWORK): Baseline demographics and prevalence of mental health disorders
(Frontiers Media, 2022-08-12) Easterbrook, Bethany; Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Sanger, Brahm, D.; Mitchell, Meghan; McKinnon, Margaret; Carleton, R. Nicholas
Background: Researchers and practitioners have begun to recognize and empirically examine the mental health challenges facing public safety personnel (PSP). Empirical results from longitudinal data collection among PSP remains extremely scant, particularly for institutional correctional workers. We designed the current study to assess the mental health of Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) correctional officer recruits (CORs) across time to help clarify potential challenges to or protective factors for mental health across correctional officer (CO) careers.
Open Access
Mental Disorder Symptoms among Public Safety Personnel in Canada
(SAGE Publications, 2017-08-28) Carleton, R. Nicholas; Afifi, Tracie O.; Turner, Sarah; Taillieu, Tamara L.; Duranceau, Sophie; LeBouthillier, Daniel, M.; Sareen, Jitender; Ricciardelli, Rosemary; MacPhee, Renée, S.; Groll, Dianne; Hozempa, Kadie; Brunet, Alain; Weekes, John R.; Griffiths, Curt T.; Abrams, Kelly J.; Jones, Nicholas A.; Beshai, Shadi; Cramm, Heidi; Dobson, Keith S.; Hatcher, Simon; Keane, Terence M.; Stewart, Sherry H.; Asmundson, Gordon J.G.
Canadian public safety personnel (PSP; e.g., correctional workers, dispatchers, firefighters, paramedics, police officers) are exposed to potentially traumatic events as a function of their work. Such exposures contribute to the risk of developing clinically significant symptoms related to mental disorders. The current study was designed to provide estimates of mental disorder symptom frequencies and severities for Canadian PSP.
Open Access
Mental disorders, suicidal ideation, plans and attempts among Canadian police
(Oxford University Press, 2020-03-10) Di Nota, Paula; Anderson, Gregory S.; Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Carleton, R. Nicholas; Groll, Dianne
Recent investigations have demonstrated a significant prevalence of mental health disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidal ideation, plans and attempts among Canadian public safety personnel, including police officers. What remains unknown is the relationship between mental disorders and suicide among sworn police officers, and the prevalence of both among civilian police workers.
Open Access
Mental health disorder symptom changes among public safety personnel after emotional resilience skills training.
(Elsevier Inc., 2025-02-05) Carleton, R. Nicholas; Sauer-Zavala, Shannon; Teckchandani, Taylor A.; Maguire, Kirby Q.; Jamshidi, Laleh; Shields, Robyn, E.; Afifi, Tracie O.; Nisbet, Jolan; Andrews, Katie L.; Stewart, Sherry H.; Fletcher, Amber J.; Martin, R; MacPhee, Renée, S.; MacDermid, J.C.; Keane, Terence M.; Brunet, Alain; McCarron, Michelle C. E.; Lix, Lisa M.; Jones, N.A.; Krätzig, Gregory P.; Neary, J. Patrick; Anderson, Gregory S.; Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Cramm, Heidi; Sareen, Jitender; Asmundson, Gordon J.G.
Public safety personnel (PSP) are frequently exposed to psychologically traumatic events. The exposures potentiate posttraumatic stress injuries (PTSIs), including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Protocol was designed to mitigate PTSIs using ongoing monitoring and PSP-delivered Emotional Resilience Skills Training (ERST) based on the Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders. The current study pilot-tested ERST effectiveness among diverse PSP.