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Provincial Correctional Service Workers: The Prevalence of Mental Disorders

Author

Listed:
  • R. Nicholas Carleton

    (Anxiety and Illness Behaviours Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada)

  • Rosemary Ricciardelli

    (Memorial University of Newfoundland, Saint John’s, NL A1C 5S7, Canada)

  • Tamara Taillieu

    (Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3, Canada)

  • Meghan M. Mitchell

    (Department of Criminal Justice, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32810, USA)

  • Elizabeth Andres

    (Memorial University of Newfoundland, Saint John’s, NL A1C 5S7, Canada)

  • Tracie O. Afifi

    (Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3, Canada)

Abstract

Correctional service employees in Ontario, Canada ( n = 1487) began an online survey available from 2017 to 2018 designed to assess the prevalence and correlates of mental health challenges. Participants who provided data for the current study ( n = 1032) included provincial staff working in institutional wellness (e.g., nurses) ( n = 71), training (e.g., program officers) ( n = 26), governance (e.g., superintendents) ( n = 82), correctional officers ( n = 553), administration (e.g., record keeping) ( n = 25), and probation officers ( n = 144, parole officers). Correctional officers, workers in institutional administration and governance positions, and probation officers reported elevated risk for mental disorders, most notably posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder. Among institutional correctional staff, 61.0% of governance employees, 59.0% of correctional officers, 43.7% of wellness staff, 50.0% of training staff, and 52.0% of administrative staff screened positive for one or more mental disorders. In addition, 63.2% of probation officers screened positive for one or more mental disorders. Women working as correctional officers were more likely to screen positive than men ( p < 0.05). Across all correctional occupational categories positive screens for each disorder were: 30.7% for PTSD, 37.0% for major depressive disorder, 30.5% for generalized anxiety disorder, and 58.2% for one or more mental disorders. Participants between ages 40 and 49 years, working in institutional governance, as an institutional correctional officer, or as a probational officer, separated or divorced, were all factors associated ( p < 0.05) with screening positive for one or more mental disorders. The prevalence of mental health challenges for provincial correctional workers appears to be higher than federal correctional workers in Canada and further supports the need for evidence-based mental health solutions.

Suggested Citation

  • R. Nicholas Carleton & Rosemary Ricciardelli & Tamara Taillieu & Meghan M. Mitchell & Elizabeth Andres & Tracie O. Afifi, 2020. "Provincial Correctional Service Workers: The Prevalence of Mental Disorders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:7:p:2203-:d:336988
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jelke Bethlehem, 2010. "Selection Bias in Web Surveys," International Statistical Review, International Statistical Institute, vol. 78(2), pages 161-188, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Christine Genest & Rosemary Ricciardelli & R. Nicholas Carleton, 2021. "Correctional Work: Reflections Regarding Suicide," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-10, April.
    2. Katy Konyk & Rosemary Ricciardelli & Tamara Taillieu & Tracie O. Afifi & Dianne Groll & R. Nicholas Carleton, 2021. "Assessing Relative Stressors and Mental Disorders among Canadian Provincial Correctional Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-25, September.
    3. Katie L. Andrews & Laleh Jamshidi & Jolan Nisbet & Taylor A. Teckchandani & Jill A. B. Price & Rosemary Ricciardelli & Gregory S. Anderson & R. Nicholas Carleton, 2022. "Exposures to Potentially Psychologically Traumatic Events among Canadian Coast Guard and Conservation and Protection Officers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-19, November.
    4. Rosemary Ricciardelli & R. Nicholas Carleton & Barbara Anschuetz & Sylvio Gravel & Brad McKay, 2022. "Testifying after an Investigation: Shaping the Mental Health of Public Safety Personnel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-8, October.
    5. Megan Guardiano & Paul Boy & Grigoriy Shapirshteyn & Lisa Dobrozdravic & Liwei Chen & Haiou Yang & Wendie Robbins & Jian Li, 2022. "Working Conditions and Wellbeing among Prison Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Comparison to Community Nurses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-12, September.
    6. Katie L. Andrews & Laleh Jamshidi & Jolan Nisbet & Taylor A. Teckchandani & Jill A. B. Price & Rosemary Ricciardelli & Gregory S. Anderson & R. Nicholas Carleton, 2022. "Mental Health Disorder Symptoms among Canadian Coast Guard and Conservation and Protection Officers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-15, November.

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