GS V-3 - Supporting Public Safety Personnel Mental Health: Challenges and Opportunities

First responders and other 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. PSP also face organizational, operational, and systematic challenges that further impact their mental health. Addressing these challenges with evidence-based treatments and training has been hindered by stigma, occupational barriers, and a lack of research focused on supporting police. Accordingly, the Government of Canada has funded the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT; www.cipsrt-icrtsp.ca) to help build better solutions. CIPSRT is the national institute dedicated to PSP. CIPSRT provides the knowledge exchange network for information and resources for PSP stakeholders including academics, researchers, clinicians, PSP, PSP leaders, PSP families, and policymakers. CIPSRT is also the home for PSPNET (www.pspnet.ca), which provides PSP with tailored internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy. There are several other federally-funded initiatives associated with CIPSRT, such as efforts to build evidence-based proactive solutions for supporting federal (www.rcmpstudy.ca), provincial, and municipal (www.saskptsistudy.ca) PSP mental health. The presentation will contextualize challenges facing PSP, highlight several CIPSRT related projects, showcase evidence-informed opportunities to better support PSP, and present on selected peer-reviewed research results regarding PSP mental health.

*Profession Specific CEs:

This presentation is approved for 2 CE Credits by The Anne Arundel County Mental Health Agency, Inc. (AACMHA) as an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.

This presentation is approved for 2 PDH from EAPA- Employee Assistance Professionals Association.

2 CE Credits for NAADAC, This course has been approved by International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF), as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider # 87914, International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF), is responsible for all aspects of the programing.

*Review ICISF World Congress 17 CE website page for additional requirements.*Review ICISF World Congress 17 CE website page for additional requirements.