The Resilient Minds Program in Fire Departments

Not Applicable

Brief Summary: The purpose of the study is to assess the impact of a mental health training program in volunteer and career firefighters.

Detailed Description: 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.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

18 years and older
can read, understand, speak English
career or volunteer firefighters in PEI participating in Resilient Minds program

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Resilient Minds	Resilient Minds	Four comprehensive, skill-building learning modules in the areas of psychological trauma, mental health problems, resiliency and workplace stress.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Work Stress	0-12 months	Survey on factors that contribute to work stress (unit of measure = 5-point Likert scale, "Not at all" to "A Lot")
Impact on support levels	0-12 months	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")
Knowledge Retention	0-12 months	Survey on retention of program material (unit of measure = 5-point Likert scale, "Not much" to "A Lot")
Mental Health Knowledge	0-12 months	Survey on mental health knowledge (unit of measure = 5-point Likert Scale, "Agree Strongly" to "Disagree Strongly")

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Self-perceived learning	0-12 months	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")
Critical incidents exposure and impact	0 months	Survey on exposures to difficult or stressful things (unit of measure = ratings of frequency and impact on life)
Resilience	0-12 months	Survey on mental resiliency (unit of measure = 5-point Likert scale, "Strongly Agree" to "Strongly Disagree")
Helpfulness of training	0-12 months	Survey of helpfulness of training (unit of measure = Yes or No response)
Utilization of training	0-12 months	Survey on intent and actual usage of information or skills learned from program (unit of measure = Yes or No response)

Locations (5): Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services
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Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
East River Fire Department
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Mount Stewart, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Crossroads Fire Department
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Stratford, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Summerside Fire Department
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Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Charlottetown Fire Department
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Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada