Adaptation and Evaluation of Virtual Group-Based Cognitive Behavior Therapy Classes for Mental Wellness in Public Safety Personnel

The study will be a nonblinded three-arm randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a 5-session CBTm program. Arm 1 will be a videoconference-based, facilitator-led, group CBTm course (ZOOM); Arm 2 will be a self-guided online web-based CBTm course (WEB); and Arm 3 will be a waitlist control group (WAIT).

The investigators initially developed a 4-session (90 min each) facilitator-led CBTm program. As part of their initial pilot work with this population, they created a Project Advisory Committee (PAC), formed of researchers and PSP stakeholders and leaders. Based on their discussions with the PAC, it was recommended that a fifth class be added that focused on responding to traumatic events and stress using a CBT approach along with safety planning for managing crisis situations. As such, the program was adapted to a 5-session model for use in PSP. Session topics are as follows:

Session 1. Mindfulness, Basics of Cognitive Therapy, Thought Records Session 2. Mindfulness, Basics of Behaviour Therapy, Exposure Therapy Session 3. Mindfulness, Healthy Activity, Sleep Hygiene Session 4. Mindfulness, Goal Setting, Assertiveness Session 5. Mindfulness, Dealing with Stress and Stressful Experiences, Wellness Planning

For the proposed study, Arm 1 (ZOOM) participants will be offered the opportunity to join one of 2-3 weekly meeting times. Participants will be sent a link to join a Zoom videoconference session at the outset of each week, allowing them to log in at their chosen time slot. These meeting times will be arranged based on discussions with the PAC around optimal time slots for their shift workers. Sessions will be 90 minutes in length and will be facilitated by a minimum of 2 trained clinician facilitators and 1 research assistant. The session will include a PowerPoint presentation of the CBTm material in a lecture format. Participants will be invited and encouraged to discuss, comment and ask questions of the facilitators about the material throughout the presentation. Homework will be assigned each session relating to the material that was covered. Participants will have 1 week to work through and practice the skills learned, and this homework will be discussed at the next session. Arm 2 (WEB) participants will receive access to the online self-guided CBTm course. The material within that program is identical to the material taught within the facilitator-led groups. Participants will receive access to the Session 1 material upon joining the study at which point they will be able to move through the material at their own pace. The material is presented in a slide show format with pre-recorded audio to accompany each slide, in accordance with the material that they would cover if the class was held in-person. Material may be completed in a single sitting or the participant can choose to pause the session and return to it at a later time. Homework will be assigned as in the ZOOM arm through online forms that appear at the end of each session. These forms will be able to be completed online at any point during or after the session. Handouts will be able to be printed if the participant would like to complete the homework on paper. If the participant has any questions, they will have access to a 'contact us' button which will allow questions to be sent to the research team. These emails will be accessed daily by the research team. Some questions may need to be forwarded on to facilitators or clinicians depending on the content. One week after completion of Session 1, participants will receive access to Session 2. This one-week timeframe prior to accessing the next session is used to mirror most closely the time in which participants in the facilitator-led groups will have to practice the skills learned each week before another class is held. The online CBTm course has been in development through Safeandcertified.com, a company with substantial experience in developing and delivering courses for workplace safety and the SafeWork initiative in Manitoba. Arm 3 (WAIT) participants will be assigned to a waitlist control. These individuals will not receive any type of active intervention but will continue to receive mental health questionnaires to complete in line with the ZOOM and WEB participants at weekly intervals. These individuals will be offered a choice of videoconference CBTm or online CBTm at completion of their waitlist period (6 months).