Assessing the Impact of the Resilient Minds Program in Fire Departments
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Sponsor
- McMaster University
- Enrollment
- 600
- Locations
- 5
- Primary Endpoint
- Work Stress
Study Overview
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.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Na
- Intervention Model
- Single Group
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
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
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Work Stress
Time Frame: 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
Time Frame: 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
Time Frame: 0-12 months
Survey on retention of program material (unit of measure = 5-point Likert scale, "Not much" to "A Lot")
Mental Health Knowledge
Time Frame: 0-12 months
Survey on mental health knowledge (unit of measure = 5-point Likert Scale, "Agree Strongly" to "Disagree Strongly")
Secondary Outcomes
- Self-perceived learning(0-12 months)
- Critical incidents exposure and impact(0 months)
- Resilience(0-12 months)
- Helpfulness of training(0-12 months)
- Utilization of training(0-12 months)