IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v22y2025i8p1269-d1723960.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

PeerOnCall: Evaluating Implementation of App-Based Peer Support in Canadian Public Safety Organizations

Author

Listed:
  • Sandra E. Moll

    (School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada)

  • Rosemary Ricciardelli

    (School of Maritime Studies, Fisheries and Marine Institute, Memorial University, St. John’s, NL A1C 5R3, Canada)

  • R. Nicholas Carleton

    (Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada)

  • Joy C. MacDermid

    (School of Physical Therapy, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada)

  • Stephen Czarnuch

    (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Memorial University, St. John’s, NL A1C 5S7, Canada)

  • Renée S. MacPhee

    (Department of Kinesiology & Physical Education, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5, Canada
    Department of Health Sciences, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5, Canada)

Abstract

Public safety personnel (PSP), including correctional workers, firefighters, paramedics, police, and public safety communicators, are at increased risk for posttraumatic stress injury, yet face barriers in receiving timely support. Mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps) offer promising avenues for confidential, on-demand access to relevant information and support. The purpose of this study was to assess implementation of PeerOnCall , a new mHealth platform designed by and for PSP (the platform includes two parallel apps: one for frontline workers and one for peer support providers). A multi-site mixed methods implementation trial was conducted over 3−6 months in 42 public safety organizations across Canada. App usage trends were tracked through software analytics, and facilitators and barriers to app use were explored via interviews with organizational champions. Over 11,300 employees across 42 organizations were invited to use the PeerOnCall app over the trial period, with approximately 1759 PSP (15% of total) downloading the app. Variation within and across sectors was evident in app downloads and feature use. Approaches to communication (mode, timing, and messenger), and organizational culture related to mental health and help outreach affected uptake levels. PeerOnCall is a promising tool to facilitate access to peer support; however, culturally relevant strategies are needed to overcome barriers and integrate this tool into workplace practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Sandra E. Moll & Rosemary Ricciardelli & R. Nicholas Carleton & Joy C. MacDermid & Stephen Czarnuch & Renée S. MacPhee, 2025. "PeerOnCall: Evaluating Implementation of App-Based Peer Support in Canadian Public Safety Organizations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(8), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:8:p:1269-:d:1723960
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/8/1269/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/8/1269/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. 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.
    2. Justin Mausz & Elizabeth Anne Donnelly & Sandra Moll & Sheila Harms & Meghan McConnell, 2022. "Mental Disorder Symptoms and the Relationship with Resilience among Paramedics in a Single Canadian Site," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-14, April.
    3. Cristiane S. C. Araújo & Ruth Minamisava & Marcos A. Matos & Camila C. F. Vieira & Priscila V. O. Vitorino & Dolors Rodríguez-Martín & Neuma Chaveiro & Lizete M. A. C. Oliveira & Virginia V. Brasil & , 2020. "Associated Factors of Quality of Life in Prison Officers, Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-12, May.
    4. Robyn E. Shields & Stephanie Korol & R. Nicholas Carleton & Megan McElheran & Andrea M. Stelnicki & Dianne Groll & Gregory S. Anderson, 2021. "Brief Mental Health Disorder Screening Questionnaires and Use with Public Safety Personnel: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-30, April.
    5. Heidi Cramm & Rachel Richmond & Laleh Jamshidi & Megan Edgelow & Dianne Groll & Rose Ricciardelli & Joy Christine MacDermid & Michael Keiley & R. Nicholas Carleton, 2021. "Mental Health of Canadian Firefighters: The Impact of Sleep," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-14, December.
    6. Gregory S. Anderson & Rosemary Ricciardelli & Linna Tam-Seto & Sulaimon Giwa & R. Nicholas Carleton, 2022. "Self-Reported Coping Strategies for Managing Work-Related Stress among Public Safety Personnel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-14, February.
    7. Petrič Karl, 2025. "Gaining Knowledge through Understanding Distress and Positive Factors in Social Environments," European Review of Applied Sociology, Sciendo, vol. 18(30), pages 26-49.
    8. Megan Edgelow & Emma Scholefield & Matthew McPherson & Kathleen Legassick & Jessica Novecosky, 2022. "Organizational Factors and Their Impact on Mental Health in Public Safety Organizations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-34, October.
    9. 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.
    10. Andrea M. Stelnicki & Laleh Jamshidi & Tamara L. Taillieu & R. Nicholas Carleton & Tracie O. Afifi, 2022. "Mental Health and Well-Being among Children of Public Safety Personnel in Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-11, October.
    11. Eileen Huang & Nicole E. Edgar & Sarah E. MacLean & Simon Hatcher, 2022. "Workplace Assessment Scale: Pilot Validation Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-15, September.
    12. Jill A. B. Price & Adeyemi O. Ogunade & Amber J. Fletcher & Rosemary Ricciardelli & Gregory S. Anderson & Heidi Cramm & R. Nicholas Carleton, 2022. "Peer Support for Public Safety Personnel in Canada: Towards a Typology," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-11, April.
    13. 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 Training, Attitudes toward Support, and Screening Positive for Mental Disorders among Canadian Coast Guard and Conservation and Protection Officers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-16, November.
    14. 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.
    15. Liana Lentz & Lorraine Smith-MacDonald & David C. Malloy & Gregory S. Anderson & Shadi Beshai & Rosemary Ricciardelli & Suzette Bremault-Phillips & R. Nicholas Carleton, 2022. "A Qualitative Analysis of the Mental Health Training and Educational Needs of Firefighters, Paramedics, and Public Safety Communicators in Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-19, June.
    16. 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.
    17. 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.
    18. 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.
    19. Katie L. Andrews & Laleh Jamshidi & Jolan Nisbet & Taylor A. Teckchandani & Jill A. B. Price & Rosemary Ricciardelli & Gregory S. Anderson & R. Nicholas Carleton, 2022. "Assessing the Relative Impact of Diverse Stressors among Canadian Coast Guard and Conservation and Protection Officers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-20, December.
    20. Andréanne Angehrn & Amber J. Fletcher & R. Nicholas Carleton, 2021. "“Suck It Up, Buttercup”: Understanding and Overcoming Gender Disparities in Policing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-16, July.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:8:p:1269-:d:1723960. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.