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How Have Public Safety Personnel Seeking Digital Mental Healthcare Been Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic? An Exploratory Mixed Methods Study

Author

Listed:
  • Hugh McCall

    (Department of Psychology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Pkwy, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada
    PSPNET, University of Regina, 2 Research Drive, Regina, SK S4T 2P7, Canada)

  • Janine Beahm

    (Department of Psychology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Pkwy, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada
    PSPNET, University of Regina, 2 Research Drive, Regina, SK S4T 2P7, Canada)

  • Caeleigh Landry

    (Department of Psychology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Pkwy, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada
    PSPNET, University of Regina, 2 Research Drive, Regina, SK S4T 2P7, Canada)

  • Ziyin Huang

    (PSPNET, University of Regina, 2 Research Drive, Regina, SK S4T 2P7, Canada)

  • R. Nicholas Carleton

    (Department of Psychology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Pkwy, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada
    PSPNET, University of Regina, 2 Research Drive, Regina, SK S4T 2P7, Canada)

  • Heather Hadjistavropoulos

    (Department of Psychology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Pkwy, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada
    PSPNET, University of Regina, 2 Research Drive, Regina, SK S4T 2P7, Canada)

Abstract

Public safety personnel (PSP) experience unique occupational stressors and suffer from high rates of mental health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted virtually all aspects of human life around the world and has introduced additional occupational stressors for PSP. The objective of this study was to explore how PSP, especially those seeking digital mental health services, have been affected by the pandemic. Our research unit, PSPNET, provides internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy to PSP in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. When the pandemic spread to Saskatchewan, PSPNET began inquiring about the impact of the pandemic on prospective clients during the eligibility screening process. We used content analysis to analyze data from telephone screening interviews ( n = 56) and descriptive statistics to analyze data from a questionnaire concerning the impacts of COVID-19 ( n = 41). The results showed that most PSP reported facing several novel emotional challenges (e.g., social isolation, boredom, anger, and fear) and logistical challenges (e.g., related to childcare, finances, work, and access to mental healthcare). Most participants indicated they felt at least somewhat afraid of contracting COVID-19 but felt more afraid of their families contracting the virus than themselves. However, few participants reported severe challenges of any kind, and many (40%) indicated that they had not been significantly negatively impacted by the pandemic. Overall, the results suggest that PSP are not expressing significant concern at this time in meeting the novel challenges posed by COVID-19. Continued research will be required to monitor how diverse PSP populations and treatment outcomes are affected by the pandemic as the situation evolves.

Suggested Citation

  • Hugh McCall & Janine Beahm & Caeleigh Landry & Ziyin Huang & R. Nicholas Carleton & Heather Hadjistavropoulos, 2020. "How Have Public Safety Personnel Seeking Digital Mental Healthcare Been Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic? An Exploratory Mixed Methods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:24:p:9319-:d:461274
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cuiyan Wang & Riyu Pan & Xiaoyang Wan & Yilin Tan & Linkang Xu & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger C. Ho, 2020. "Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
    2. R. Nicholas Carleton & Tracie O. Afifi & Tamara Taillieu & Sarah Turner & Julia E. Mason & Rosemary Ricciardelli & Donald R. McCreary & Adam D. Vaughan & Gregory S. Anderson & Rachel L. Krakauer & Eli, 2020. "Assessing the Relative Impact of Diverse Stressors among Public Safety Personnel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-25, February.
    3. Hong Yan Li & Hui Cao & Doris Y. P. Leung & Yim Wah Mak, 2020. "The Psychological Impacts of a COVID-19 Outbreak on College Students in China: A Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-11, June.
    4. Hugh C. McCall & Angelo P. Sison & Jody L. Burnett & Janine D. Beahm & Heather D. Hadjistavropoulos, 2020. "Exploring Perceptions of Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy among Public Safety Personnel: Informing Dissemination Efforts," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-17, August.
    5. Rosemary Ricciardelli & Stephen Czarnuch & R. Nicholas Carleton & James Gacek & James Shewmake, 2020. "Canadian Public Safety Personnel and Occupational Stressors: How PSP Interpret Stressors on Duty," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-16, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Janine D. Beahm & Caeleigh A. Landry & Hugh C. McCall & R. Nicholas Carleton & Heather D. Hadjistavropoulos, 2022. "Understanding and Addressing Occupational Stressors in Internet-Delivered Therapy for Public Safety Personnel: A Qualitative Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Hugh C. McCall & Caeleigh A. Landry & Adeyemi Ogunade & R. Nicholas Carleton & Heather D. Hadjistavropoulos, 2021. "Why Do Public Safety Personnel Seek Tailored Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy? An Observational Study of Treatment-Seekers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-14, November.

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