The purpose of the study is to assess the impact of a mental health training program in volunteer and career firefighters.
THE PROBLEM: Firefighters are frequently exposed to distressing events, or critical incidents such as motor vehicle accidents, burnt bodies, failed rescue attempts, threats to one's own life, and completed suicides that can trigger posttraumatic stress reactions. Previous research show that first responders and other public safety personnel report frequent exposure to traumatic events and are at increased risk for mental health illnesses. THE STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of a mental health training program in volunteer and career firefighters. THE STUDY SAMPLE: 600 firefighters: 300 Prince Edward Island volunteer or career firefighters, 300 Vancouver career firefighters INTERVENTION: Vancouver Fire \& Rescue Services and the Canadian Mental Health Association-Vancouver Fraser co-developed a new program called, "Resilient Minds-Building the Psychological Health of Fire Fighters." The Resilient Minds training will educate firefighters about the effects of trauma, how to recognize signs of mental health illness and how to access support after critical events. It also trains firefighters to recognize mental health and addictions in co-workers and how to facilitate their help-seeking. OUTCOMES: The impact of the program will be assessed by pre- and post-program surveys, 3-month, 6-month, 12-month follow-up surveys.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
600
The program is designed: 1) to decrease the risk of developing a stress disorder or other mental illnesses due to workplace incidents and/or unhealthy stress; 2) to mitigate the negative impacts of mental illness and trauma through early recognition and early intervention; 3) to support the public while on the frontline; and 4) to improve the psychological health of fire staff while cultivating resilience and enhancing quality of life.
Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Charlottetown Fire Department
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
East River Fire Department
Mount Stewart, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Crossroads Fire Department
Stratford, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Mental Health Knowledge
Survey on mental health knowledge (unit of measure = 5-point Likert Scale, "Agree Strongly" to "Disagree Strongly")
Time frame: 0-12 months
Knowledge Retention
Survey on retention of program material (unit of measure = 5-point Likert scale, "Not much" to "A Lot")
Time frame: 0-12 months
Work Stress
Survey on factors that contribute to work stress (unit of measure = 5-point Likert scale, "Not at all" to "A Lot")
Time frame: 0-12 months
Impact on support levels
Survey on program's impacts on peer supports and organizational culture (unit of measure = 5-point Likert scale, "No, it seems less supportive" to "Yes, it seems quite a bit more supportive")
Time frame: 0-12 months
Self-perceived learning
Survey on self-perceived learning about psychological trauma and/or mental health challenges (unit of measure = 4-point Likert scale, "Very true" to "Not true")
Time frame: 0-12 months
Helpfulness of training
Survey of helpfulness of training (unit of measure = Yes or No response)
Time frame: 0-12 months
Utilization of training
Survey on intent and actual usage of information or skills learned from program (unit of measure = Yes or No response)
Time frame: 0-12 months
Critical incidents exposure and impact
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Summerside Fire Department
Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Survey on exposures to difficult or stressful things (unit of measure = ratings of frequency and impact on life)
Time frame: 0 months
Resilience
Survey on mental resiliency (unit of measure = 5-point Likert scale, "Strongly Agree" to "Strongly Disagree")
Time frame: 0-12 months