While we have been working to support Public Safety Personnel (PSP) families, we have come to also understand the need for upstream mental health and wellbeing supports specifically tailored to the experiences of youth and children within PSP families.  In fact, in our work with PSP families, we have often been asked by family members if we had anything for their kids. This question often leads to expressions of concern as to what their children and youth are experiencing, hearing, navigating, and worrying about not only in times of crises but also in their daily lives. While there are excellent resources available through programs such as Wounded Warrior Canada’s Warrior Kids, that support children and youth impacted by parental occupational stress injury, until now, there have been limited resources available for them to access as they navigate their unique circumstances. We are excited to share that some of the team members from PSPNET Families, an online wellbeing hub filled with information, resources, and strategies, are beginning work with the Warrior Kids camp Directors on a project to shape upstream supports and resources for PSP youth and children supporting what it means for PSP families to be “on the job”.

If you are a spouse or significant other, parent, adult sibling, adult child, close friend, or someone who networks with families of PSP including leadership, service providers, association, non-profits, among others, we invite you to join Dr. Heidi Cramm of the Families Matter Research Group (Queen’s University), Dr. Linna Tam-Seto (University of Toronto),  Dr. Helena Hawryluk (Warrior Kids), Jerris Popik (Warrior Kids), and Dr. Nathalie Reid (University of Regina) as they host a panel discussion on the experiences and needs of PSP youth and children.

October 16, 2024.

Families Matter Research Group Interactive Series: Introducing Garnet Families – Seeing yourself within the Garnet Families Community

Wednesday, June 12, 2024
11:00 am CST  |  1:00 pm EDT

Garnet Families come from all walks of life and are dedicated to keeping our country and communities safe and secure. We recognize that in these families when one member of the family serves, the whole family serves.

Through a panel discussion, we will introduce who Garnet Families are and the collective impact network designed to address the needs and gaps identified by families and those who serve and support them.

While this is an open event and all are welcome, please note, registration is required. Information gathered from this event will play a vital role in growing the Garnet Families Network that will serve and support Garnet Families across Canada. Following the event, attendees will be asked to complete a survey to inform the format, frequency, and themes of future Garnet Families Network activities.

We would like to acknowledge the support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Partnership Development Grant (Families matter: A partnership of partners to study, serve, and support the families of military, veterans, and public safety personnel) with partners the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT), the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR), and the Vanier Institute of the Family, along with Medavie Foundation.

Presenters

Sarah McEwen
Ottawa Police Wellness Resource Coordinator & Police Spouse

Christina Della Croce
Police Spouse & Occupational Therapist serving PSP

Ramy Osman
Ontario Corrections

Jim O’Toole
St. John’s Regional Fire Department, NL

Watch the Video

Friday, June 7, 2024
1:00 pm CST  |  3:00 pm EDT

Public safety personnel and their families are disproportionately affected by suicidality and adverse mental health outcomes. There has been a strong preference for peer-led supports and informal services due to barriers to help-seeking including a culture of stoicism and mental health stigma. This webinar highlights the importance of suicide prevention and introduces a novel peer-led caring contacts intervention for public safety personnel in crisis who call a crisis line. Learn the rationale, status, and current perspectives on this ongoing study including the current efforts put forth by 988 and Boots on the Ground, and the discussion the intervention’s pillars of instilling hope, connection, and validation, with the goal of mitigating suicidality and increasing help-seeking among public safety personnel.

Presented by:

Dr. Janet Ellis
Sunnybrook Hospital

Dr. Allison Crawford
University of Toronto

Dave McLennan
Boots on the Ground

Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton
University of Regina

This event will be presented in English with the option of simultaneous captions or audio translation in French.

If you wish to make use of this translation service during the webinar: after joining the meeting, please open a browser window (on your desktop, phone, or other device) and use the following link: https://attend.wordly.ai/join/ENYP-5978.

This will enable you to log in to Wordly, our simultaneous translation platform. Be sure to select ‘French’ in the top right corner and keep this window open throughout the meeting.

Wednesday, April 10
11:00 am CST / 1:00 pm EDT

In a mental health context, cultural competency refers to the need for or ability of mental health care providers to understand the unique and sector-specific occupational environments and experiences of their clients, in order to provide appropriate and effective services. The ongoing mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare providers (HCP) and public safety personnel (PSP) – which include unique experiences of trauma, moral injury, and burnout – highlight the need to properly understand the shared experiences of front-line personnel and provide culturally competent care.

In this webinar, Dr. Ritchie will discuss her research into the pandemic experiences of healthcare providers and public safety personnel, and how she is using this data to develop a cultural competency model for educators and service providers to inform mental health programming for HCP and PSP negatively impacted by the pandemic.

Presented by
Dr. Kim Ritchie (McMaster University)

Dr. Kim Ritchie is a is an Assistant Professor in the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing and an Assistant Clinical Professor (Adjunct) in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neuroscience at McMaster University. Her research focuses on trauma and moral injury in healthcare providers, public safety personnel, Veterans, and in older adults.

This event will be presented in English with the option of simultaneous captions or audio translation in French.

If you wish to make use of this translation service during the webinar: after joining the meeting, please open a browser window (on your desktop, phone, or other device) and use the following link: https://attend.wordly.ai/join/DOKX-0519

This will enable you to log in to Wordly, our simultaneous translation platform. Be sure to select ‘French’ in the top right corner and keep this window open throughout the meeting.

We welcome your feedback about our translation service! Please be sure to share your thoughts in the exit survey that follows the meeting.

Families Matter Research Group Interactive Series: PSP Family Support – How can organizations get involved?

Wednesday 14 February 2024
11:00 am CST (12:00 pm EST)

Families of Public Safety Personnel (PSP) serve alongside their loved ones and experience unique challenges due to these high-risk professions. Public safety organizations have begun to address these unique challenges and have successfully implemented some family-forward initiatives. We have sought out public safety organizations that have made efforts in these initiatives and looked to consolidate the collective wisdom on where and how to start, and what seems to be working. We are excited to share some preliminary findings about initiatives that originate from both rural and urban areas across Canada and from a variety of public safety sectors.

As this is an open event and all are welcome, please note, registration is required. Information gathered from this event will play a central role in growing a network that will serve and support PSP families across Canada. Following the event, attendees will be asked to complete a survey to inform the format, frequency, and themes of future PSP Families Network activities.

We would like to acknowledge the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for funding this research, along with those who have participated in the study to date.

Presented by:
Rachel Richmond (PhD Candidate)
School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen’s University

This event will be presented in English with the option of simultaneous captions or audio translation in French.

If you wish to make use of this translation service during the webinar: after joining the meeting, please open a browser window (on your desktop, phone, or other device) and use the following link: https://attend.wordly.ai/join/XWJC-0918

This will enable you to log in to Wordly, our simultaneous translation platform. Be sure to select ‘French’ in the top right corner and keep this window open throughout the meeting.

We welcome your feedback about our translation service! Please be sure to share your thoughts in the exit survey that follows the meeting.

Date and time: Wednesday, November 15, 2023, 11 am CST / 12 pm EST

As frontline responders, police officers are called to intervene with suicidal individuals. As a result, they can be directly exposed to situations of acting out. In Quebec, “in all cases where a person, other than a police officer on duty, dies, is seriously injured or is injured by a police officer’s firearm, during a police response or while in detention by a police force,” an independent investigation is requested in order to get to the bottom of the event’s circumstances. This study is based on the analysis of the information available from 336 investigation files of police interventions leading to an independent investigation in Quebec, between 2006 and 2015. Of this number, 138 cases involving suicides or suicide attempts in the presence of law enforcement, including suspected cases of suicide by police, were subject to a comprehensive descriptive analysis. This summary will present the results from the perspective of sociodemographic, situational and psychological characteristics of suicidal individuals involved. It will then address a typology of persons who commit suicide in the presence of law enforcement, following the ’’two-step cluster analysis “procedure. Finally, we will discuss the impact of this study with respect to training and police response.

Presented by:

Dr. Annie Gendron
Annie Gendron, Ph.D., has a doctorate in psychology. Annie is a researcher for the International Centre for Comparative Criminology at the École nationale de police du Québec, Adjunct Professor in the Department of Special Education of the Université du Québec à Trois–Rivières, Joint-holder of the Chaire de recherche en prévention de la santé psychologique au travail en sécurité publique (Research co-chair in Prevention of Psychological Health at Work in Public Safety), regular researcher at the Centre for Comparative Criminology—Interuniversity Centre, and collaborator at the Laboratoire de psychologie–légale (Forensic Psychology Laboratory) at the UQTR. Her research interests focus on questions related to the process of candidate selection for police officers, training and police intervention in Quebec. Her work concerns academic and professional careers of police officers, selection tests, prevention of psychological health problems among first responders, practices associated to work in law enforcement, as well as suicide situations in the presence of police officers. She is also interested in the challenges facing police response in indigenous context, and with indigenous populations.

This webinar will be presented in French with the option of English captioning.

Date and time: Monday, October 30 11 am CST / 1 pm EDT

In 2019, Public Safety Canada released ‘Supporting Canada’s Public Safety Personnel: An Action Plan on Post-Traumatic Stress Injuries’. Part of the Action Plan was building an evidence base to design effective interventions. To help support rapid evidence growth, the Government of Canada invested $40 Million to support new research and improve knowledge transfer. The expanding evidence base would support decision-makers and funders in determining where to invest scarce resources to achieve reliable, sustainable outcomes.

In early 2023, following the recommendation of the Joint Knowledge Sub-Committee (JKSC), the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General’s Mental Health Secretariat (MHS) asked the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT) to assess the state of the evidence and synthesize existing research into a PSP Mental Health Programming Framework. The framework supports decisions regarding the effectiveness of mental health interventions for PSP and their families across their career continuum.

In this webinar, we discuss the growth of the new PSP mental health sector, the methods used to assess the evidence base, and then present the final framework. We end the webinar with a brief discussion on the state of the evidence base and some of the gaps.

Presenters:

Dr. Margaret McKinnon
Homewood Chair in Mental Health and Trauma
McMaster University

Dr. Kathleen McNutt
Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy

Dr. Adam Vaughan
Department of Justice Studies, University of Regina

This webinar will be presented in English with the option of French captioning.

Date and time: Wednesday, October 25, 7:00 PM EST

We cordially invite you to an upcoming webinar that promises to be both informative and enlightening. Join us for a 1-hour session dedicated to the PSP Mental Health Training Showcase.

Agenda:

• Presenters: Rachel Werrett (Training and Development Project), Gabriela Ioachim, and Nicole Bolt (BOS Project)
• Focus: Exploring different training initiatives designed exclusively for PSP’s mental health.
• Audience Participation: We value your insights! A segment of this webinar will be dedicated to allowing PSP members to share their training experiences.

Your presence and contributions are highly appreciated as we collectively shape the future of PSP training. We look forward to your active participation!

Presented by: CIPHER. This online event will be presented in English, with the option of simultaneous captioning in French translation.

Date & Time: September 27th, 2023, 11:00 am CST (12:00 pm EST)  

Where do parents fit in all of this? We invite you to join Dr. Heidi Cramm for a discussion about the experiences and perspectives of parents of defence and public safety personnel. We will explore issues and needs across the family life cycle.

While this is an open event and all are welcome, please note, registration is required. Information gathered from this event will play a vital role in growing a network that will serve and support PSP families across Canada. Following the event, attendees will be asked to complete a survey to inform the format, frequency, and themes of future PSP Families Network activities.

We would like to acknowledge the support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Partnership Development Grant (Families matter: A partnership of partners to study, serve, and support the families of military, veterans, and public safety personnel) with partners the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT), the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR), and the Vanier Institute of the Family, along with the Medavie Foundation.

Presenters:

Dr. Heidi Cramm
Heidi Cramm is Professor, School of Rehabilitation Therapy and the research lead for the Families Matter Research Group based at Queen’s University. An occupational therapist, she has a clinical background in child and family mental health and wellbeing. Her research program focuses on family mental health and wellbeing for those serving in occupations with significant risk and requirement.

Lisa Vaters
Lisa Vaters is examining the bereavement experience of military and Veteran family members in her second year of a Rehabilitation and Health Leadership Doctorate. She is currently a Veteran spouse for a decade, after twenty-five years as a military family member, and parent of a military member for seven years.

Date and time: Wednesday 13 September 2023, 11:00 am CST

It has been proven that being exposed to potentially traumatic events while performing their duties can have a psychological impact on police officers. Yet, evidence from scientific research and communities of practice is still unclear, especially when it comes to posttraumatic support. Who needs to do what, and how? Are there response times to comply with? What roles do the organization, the manager and the union representative play? The preliminary results presented during this webinar seek to identify the best preventive practices, with regard to psychological support for police officers, taking into account individual, peri-traumatic and organizational challenges. 

Presenter:

Andrée-Ann Deschênes, MBA, Ph. D.
Andrée-Ann Deschênes has a doctorate in work psychology and is a professor at the École de gestion de l’Université du Québec à Trois–Rivières. As part of the public security management programs team, she trains the managers of today and tomorrow. She is a joint holder of the Chaire de recherche UQTR–ENPQ sur la prévention en santé psychologique au travail en sécurité publique (research chair in prevention of psychological health at work in public safety). Andrée-Ann is also a regular researcher at the International Center for Comparative Criminology. Her work, funded and distributed at national and international levels, covers management psychology within public safety organizations, especially the protection of psychological health in law enforcement work environments.

The RIPTOP project (research intervention after-trauma within police organizations), funded by the SSHRC, is done in collaboration with Annie Gendron—ENPQ, Marie-France Marin—UQAM and Clémence Emeriau Farges—UQTR.

Date and time: Wednesday, September 6, 11:00 am CST

The suicide prevention committee of CIPSRT funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research us currently developing a suicide prevention strategy for public safety personnel in Canada. This presentation will describe the plan for how we intend to do this. The presentation will also ask who needs to be involved and what are the important considerations we haven’t thought about yet.

Presenter:

Dr. Simon Hatcher
Department of Psychology, University of Ottawa
Dr. Simon Hatcher is a Full Professor of Psychiatry at The University of Ottawa, Canada. He trained in Consultation-Liaison psychiatry in the UK and ran a Consultation-Liaison service in New Zealand for 20 years. His main research interests include suicide, self-harm, psychotherapies, clinical trials, first responder’s mental health, trauma informed care in the homeless and e-therapies. He has been the principal investigator in several large trials of non-pharmacological interventions in people who present to hospital with intentional self-harm. The OHRI research lab he heads Hatching Ideas Hub focuses on clinical trials in underserved populations such as suicidal men, the homeless and first responders. Clinically he works in the downtown homeless shelters in Ottawa and the Liaison Psychiatry service at The Ottawa General Hospital. He is the Vice Chair of the Department of Psychiatry.

Date and time: Tuesday, August 29, 2023, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CST (Regina time)

Learn more about current training offered through CIPSRT and funded via Public Health Agency of Canada. In this webinar, Rachel Werrett, Training and Development Manager, will discuss its newest course, Sleep 101, and other training opportunities available through the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT). Learn some of the newest post-course outcomes from previously funded CIPSRT training and development opportunities.

Given the increased understanding of the importance of sleep to both mental and physical health, CIPSRT has partnered with Dr. Colleen Carney, Director of the Sleep and Depression Laboratory at Toronto Metropolitan University, to develop a sleep course for PSP. Sleep 101 is offered in a fully online format with 4 live sessions that build upon the concepts introduced in CIPSRT’s Sleep Toolkit for public safety personnel.

Through its national network and support from Canadian public safety personnel leadership, CIPSRT responds to the identified needs of public safety personnel, clinicians, researchers, and other stakeholders. Through the facilitation of high quality and easily accessible care and resources, CIPSRT has become a hub for addressing the health research needs of personnel and their families. Training for public safety personnel (PSP) may take on many forms, such as efforts to reduce stigma, increase knowledge, or minimize mental health disorders through resiliency training and early intervention programs.

Presenter:

Rachel Werrett,
Manager, Training and Development, CIPSRT

Rachel Werrett, CAPM, MBA, is the Manager, Training and Development for CIPSRT. She previously served as the interim CIPSRT Operations Manager (March 2020 – May 2021) and worked in positions responsible for program development, business development, and management within the University of Regina’s Centre for Continuing Education (2011-2020). Her mix of project management and program implementation skills, expertise in continuing professional education, and business acumen ensures that all programs offered as part of CIPSRT’s training pillar are responsive to the needs of Canadian PSP members and their families, PSP leaders, and public safety organizations.

Date: Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Time: 11am CST/1pm EST

Duration: 60 minutes

Language: English presentation with simultaneous captioning in French, followed by a period of questions and answers in both official languages, English and French

Description:

CIHR/CIPSRT will be hosting a webinar to support participants with the requirements of the funding opportunity and to answer questions on how to apply.

CIHR is seeking grant applications to its final funding opportunity under the PTSI in PSP Initiative titled Catalyst Grant: Crisis/Suicide Line and App-based Support Models for Post-Traumatic Stress Injuries in Public Safety Personnel. Successful grant recipients will work directly with either one of the two Research and Coordination Hubs for Post-Traumatic Stress Injuries in PTSI in PSP (2021) to address innovative research questions related to the efficacy/effectiveness, feasibility, development and/or evaluation of best practices, guidance documents and uptake of both support services by PSP.

Research Areas

This funding opportunity will support projects addressing research questions relevant to at least one of the two research streams supported through the Research and Coordination Hubs:

• RESPond Hub for Research in Suicide Prevention for Public Safety Personnel (CAMH), previously referred to as the CSPS Crisis/Suicide Prevention Line
• PeerOnCall Hub for App-based Peer-to-Peer Support (McMaster University), previously referred to as the “OnCall” app

Presenter: Dr. Eric Marcotte, Associate Director, Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

As Associate Director of the CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction, Dr. Eric Marcotte plays a key role in the development and implementation of innovative research programs to improve health within the broad mandate areas of the institute. Dr. Marcotte holds a PhD in Medical Sciences from McMaster University, and did post-doctoral work at McGill University.

Date and Time:

Thursday, May 25, 2023
11:00 am – 12:00 pm CST

Description:

Leaving the public safety sector is a major life transition that impacts both the public safety personnel (PSP) and their families. There is growing awareness of the benefits of preparation and planning for this transition and the impacts it has on identity, mental health, routines, relationships and social connections.

Through a moderated panel discussion, Dr. Christina Harrington, PhD, RSW; Laura Kloosterman, Executive Director of Badge of Life Canada and Retired OPP Constable with 32 years of service; Dean Wilkinson, Retired Paramedic with 47 years of service; and Bill Turner, Retired Police Sergeant and Business Owner, Peer Supporter and Advocate, will share their reflections and strategies for navigating the impacts of life after service with their families.

While this is an open event and all are welcome, please note, registration is required. Information gathered from this event will play a vital role in growing a network that will serve and support PSP families across Canada. Following the event, attendees will be asked to complete a survey to inform the format, frequency, and themes of future PSP Families Network activities.

We would like to acknowledge the support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Partnership Development Grant (Families Matter: A partnership of partners to study, serve, and support the families of military, veterans, and public safety personnel) with partners the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT), the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR), and the Vanier Institute of the Family, along with Medavie Foundation.

This online event will be presented in English, with the option of simultaneous captioning in French translation.

Date and Time:

Wednesday, May 17
11:00 am – 12:00 pm CST (Regina time)

Description:

Learn more about current and future training opportunities offered through CIPSRT.  In this webinar, Rachel Werrett, Training and Development Manager, will discuss its newest course, Treatment 101, and other training opportunities available through the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT).

Treatment 101 for Public Safety Personnel is an online course designed to support public safety personnel (PSP) in making informed decisions about their mental health care and guides participants through the process of obtaining services from professional mental health care practitioners.

Through its national network and support from Canadian public safety personnel leadership, CIPSRT responds to the identified needs of public safety personnel, clinicians, researchers, and other stakeholders. Through the facilitation of high quality and easily accessible care and resources, CIPSRT has become a hub for addressing the health research needs of personnel and their families. Training for public safety personnel (PSP) may take on many forms, such as efforts to reduce stigma, increase knowledge, or minimize mental health disorders through resiliency training and early intervention programs.

Presenter:

Rachel Werrett,
Manager, Training and Development, CIPSRT
Rachel Werrett, CAPM, MBA, is the Manager, Training and Development for CIPSRT. She previously served as the interim CIPSRT Operations Manager (March 2020 – May 2021) and worked in positions responsible for program development, business development, and management within the University of Regina’s Centre for Continuing Education (2011-2020). Her mix of project management and program implementation skills, expertise in continuing professional education, and business acumen ensures that all programs offered as part of CIPSRT’s training pillar are responsive to the needs of Canadian PSP members and their families, PSP leaders, and public safety organizations.

This online event will be presented in English, with the option of simultaneous captioning in French translation.

Date & Time:

April 11, 2023- 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CST (1:00 pm EDT)

Description:

The SKY Resilience Program transforms lives by optimizing mental readiness for action while at the same time restoring wellbeing, mental focus and a renewed sense of resilience, connection and purpose. The program is evidence-based and delivered by the International Association for Human Values, a registered Canadian charity, holding special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council. The core technique of the SKY Resilience Program is Sudarshan Kriya (SKY) which is a breathing-based meditation that can help improve symptoms of PTSD.

Currently, researchers at the University of Toronto, in partnership with the RCMP, and the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families are examining the effectiveness of delivering the program virtually. The findings from this study will help organizations that work with First Responders and Canadian Veterans better understand how the SKY Resilience Program can be of benefit to their clients and members, and help support future programming and treatment planning.

Presenters:

Dr. Abhimanyu Sud
Chief Scientific Officer, The Chronic Pain Center of Excellence for Veterans, and President, International Association for Human Values

Abhimanyu Sud (MD CCFP) is an Assistant Professor at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Research Chair, Primary Care & Population Health Systems at Humber River Hospital, Chief Scientific Officer at the Chronic Pain Center of Excellence for Canadian Veterans, and President of the International Association for Human Values (IAHV). He has volunteered for IAHV for many years including in the areas of sustainable development and physician wellness. He is proud to be serving as a President to support all the wonderful work of the organization in Canada and internationally.

Spencer Delisle
Vice President, International Association for Human Values (IAHV)

Spencer brings 15 years of international management and facilitation experience, and has lead resilience building, self mastery, emotional intelligence, team connectedness workshops and coaching for hundreds of leaders and teams including the Government of Canada, and Iraq, the European Parliament, Google, Intuit, GE, TD, FSRA, Ford, FIFA, WTA, Troy Michigan, Police, London Police Association, United States Armed Forces and Canadian Armed Forces. Formerly involved in academic research at Mount Allison, and McGill University in the fields of oncology and cardiology respectively, he has also worked on the corporate side of science in marketing with Novartis Pharmaceuticals, and is a certified Executive Coach. He has been the lead instructor on multiple research studies examining the effects of Meditation and Breathing Techniques, is a member of the WSIB Communities of Practice Prevention and Early Detection Working Group, and currently sits on the PTSD Advisory Committee at Mount Sinai Hospital in partnership with the University of Toronto, and Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families.

Marcel Queiroz
Executive Director, SKY Resilience Program

Marcel has worked for the last 10 years with Trauma Relief Projects, Prison Programs and teaching first responders. As a Pharmaceutical Sciences Researcher who benefited from the program, Marcel is working on assessing the efficiency of SKY intervention in first responders using biomarkers such as cortisol and oxytocin. He has overseen global initiatives that impacted more than 3000 officers and has trained teachers in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, South Africa, Philippines and the United States. Marcel also works as a Metrology and Quality Analyst for the National Institute of Metrology, Standardization and Industrial Quality (INMETRO), a Brazilian federal autarchy, linked to the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade responsible for improving the entire productive sector. His passion and experience are to accelerate institutional change in public and private institutions, focusing on individual resilience, stress relief, human-centered leadership, productivity, and personal management.

Steve Stokan
Ret. Constable, London Police Service

Steve is a retired Constable who served 30 years with the London Police Service. He is a Current Peer Support Leader, SKY Resilience Graduate, and Volunteer, Mental Health for First Responders Community of Practice Member. He has lived experience with Operational Stress Injury, Posttraumamtic Stress Disorder, and burn out.

This session will be presented in English

Date & Time:

March 9, 2023 11:00 am CST (12:00 pm EST)

Description:

Dr. Kim Ritchie and Mauda Karram will present emerging research findings from the Trauma and Recovery Research Unit’s nation-wide study on public safety’s personnel’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a combination of quantitative and qualitative data analysis, the presenters will look further into conceptualizing public safety personnel’s experiences of potentially morally injurious events and their outcomes. This discussion will be followed by a qualitative analysis of how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced public safety personnel’s coping strategies. Kim and Mauda will wrap up their presentation with a live question and answer period.

Presenters:

Dr. Kim Ritchie
Assistant Professor at Trent University

Dr. Kim Ritchie is a is an Assistant Professor at Trent University and holds an Adjunct position in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neuroscience at McMaster University. Since joining the Trauma and Recovery lab in 2020, she has been co-leading a national study examining the mental health impacts of COVID-19 on healthcare providers. In addition, Kim has over 20 years of clinical and leadership experience as a registered nurse and completed PhD in Rehabilitation Science from Queen’s University. She currently conducts research on PTSD, trauma, and moral injury in military/ Veterans, healthcare providers and public safety personnel.

Mauda Karram
Clinical Research Assistant at McMaster University

Mauda Karram is a Clinical Research Assistant in the Trauma and Recovery Research Unit at McMaster University. She completed her undergraduate degree at McMaster in the (science honours) Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour (mental health specialization) program with a minor in Theatre and Film studies. Currently, she is the project coordinator for the Moral Injury project in the lab, where she has undertaken various research endeavors on healthcare providers’ and public safety personnel’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This session will be presented in English

Date & Time:

February 8, 2023 11:00 am CST (1:00 pm EDT)

Description:

3MDR is an emerging virtual-reality supported intervention that is being studied. To date, publications have focused this intervention on military members and veterans who experienced combat trauma and meet the criteria for treatment resistance. Recent studies have started to address the use of this intervention with other demographics affected by post-traumatic stress injuries such as public safety personnel and healthcare professions both as a primary and secondary intervention. This presentation will discuss the current state and research surrounding 3MDR and discuss how this, and other novel technological interventions, may assist PSP with PTSI and moral injury.

Presenter:

Dr. Chelsea Jones
Post Doctoral Fellow
Heroes in Mind, Advocacy and Research Consortium (HiMARC)

Dr. Chelsea Jones is an occupational therapist at the Edmonton Operational Stress Injury Clinic working with military, veterans and RCMP clientele. She is also a postdoctoral fellow at the Heroes in Mind Advocacy and Research Consortium (HiMARC) through the University of Alberta. Her research interests that include virtual-reality interventions for mental health, cognitive assessment and rehabilitation, moral injury approaches, and workplace reintegration amongst military, veteran, PSP, and healthcare professionals.

Dr. Suzette Brémault-Phillips
Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Director of the Heroes in Mind Advocacy and Research Consortium (HiMARC)

Dr. Suzette Brémault-Phillips is an Occupational Therapist and Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, and Director of the Heroes in Mind Advocacy and Research Consortium (HiMARC), a provincial hub for research, teaching and service in support of military members, Veterans, public safety personnel and their families. Her research interests include resilience, well-being, moral injury, novel trauma-focused psychotherapies including virtual reality interventions, mobile and digital health, implementation science and system capacity-building.

This session will be presented in English

Watch Video

Date & Time: January 19, 2023 11:00 am CST (12:00 pm EST)

Description:

Public safety communicators are the first point of contact for people needing immediate assistance from police, fire, or ambulance. Communicator operational stress injuries (OSI) are impacted by operational and organizational factors. While operational factors, such as continuous exposure to potentially psychologically traumatic events, cannot be prevented, organizational factors can positively or negatively influence communicators’ well-being. Managers and supervisors are significant contributors to perceptions of organizational culture, as they sanction which behaviours are acceptable or intolerable. Though organizational culture varies considerably across agencies, negative cultures may impact treatment-seeking behaviours, potentially resulting in, or worsening existing OSIs.

Presenter:

Nadine Leduc, Memorial University, former Communicator

Nadine Leduc is a research assistant with the Atlantic Canada Public Safety Research and Innovation Lab at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. Her research relates to organizational culture and its impact on the wellbeing of Public Safety Personnel, specifically, emergency communicators. As a former public safety communicator, she is passionate about researching the mental well-being of communicators across Canada

This session will be presented in English

Presentation

Nadine Leduc’s Master Thesis

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Date & Time: December 1, 2022, 11:00 am CST (12:00 pm EST)

Families of Public Safety Personnel (PSP) face unique experiences as these jobs ripple into their daily lives in a variety of ways. Until now, there have been limited resources available for families as they navigate these challenges. We are excited to share that PSPNET Families, an online wellbeing hub filled with information, resources, and strategies, has been developed with an understanding of what it means for families of PSP to be “on the job”.

If you are a spouse or significant other, parent, adult sibling, adult child, close friend, or someone who networks with families of PSP (e.g., leadership, service providers, associations, non-profits), we invite you to join us for this event. Dr. Heidi Cramm of the Families Matter Research Group, Queen’s University, Dr. Heather Hadjistavropoulos of the Wellbeing Innovation Lab and PSPNET, University of Regina, and Dr. Nathalie Reid of the Child Trauma Research Centre, University of Regina, are excited to introduce PSPNET Families.

PSPNET Families has been developed through funding by the Public Health Agency of Canada, and complements PSPNET, a federally funded online platform that offers Internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (ICBT) for PSP. Please visit PSPNET Families Wellbeing Hub – PSP NET for more information about this exciting new hub.

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Date & Time: November 10, 2022 11:00 am CST (12:00 pm EST)

In this talk Dr. Duxbury uses data on Canadian police officers collected in 2011, 2020 and 2021 to make the case that while many of the issues that are contributing to mental health challenges within policing services in Canada were in place long before COVID-19 struck (under-resourcing, multiple competing ever changing priorities, understaffing) some are quite new and highly problematic (officers do not feel supported by the public). Data are presented that show that the current situation is not sustainable over time and offers suggestions on possible ways forward.

Speaker

Dr. Linda Duxbury is the Chancellor’s Professor, Management at the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University. In recent years a lot of her research has been done in the police sector both in Canada and international. This research focuses on employee well-being and the sustainability of policing in Canada.

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Date & time- Oct 13, 2022  11:00 AM CST 1:00 pm EDT

This webinar will share findings from a recently released qualitative study on moral injury (MI) in Canadian public safety personnel (PSP).

In addition to exposure to potentially traumatic experiences, public safety personnel (PSP) may also experience potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) when they cannot uphold their values, prevent harm to themselves or others, or keep people safe. Left unaddressed, PMIEs may lead to MI, a type of psychological stress response marked by feelings of guilt, shame, anger and betrayal. This presentation will focus on findings related to the types of situations that PSP describe as PMIEs, how PSP make sense of these events, and the impacts of these events on PSP health and well-being.

Lived experience commentary from a PSP leader on the study results as well as a question-and-answer session will follow the presentation.

Speakers:

Co-primary investigator for the study Dr. Sara Rodrigues is Director, Applied Research at the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families. Trained in phenomenology, Sara’s current research focuses on the social determinants of health and mental health. Sara holds a PhD in Social and Political Thought from York University.

Co-investigator for the the study Jean-Michel Mercier is a Senior Research Partnerships Associate at the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families. Having previously worked in suicide prevention, Jean-Michel now supports various research projects studying moral injury, peer support, mTBI, and mental health and well-being. Jean-Michel has an M.Sc. in Kinesiology from the University of Montreal.

About the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families:

Funded by:

Veterans Affairs Canada, the Atlas Institute works with Veterans, Families, service providers, and researchers to identify the best possible mental health care and supports for Veterans and Families.

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Date & Time : Oct 3, 2022 11:00 am CST (1:00 pm EDT)

Join us to learn more about resource available to correctional employees in need of mental health support. The panelists will share information about available resources from Correctional Service Canada, Critical Incident Stress Management, PSPNET, and ways to incorporate self-care into your routine.

Speakers

Dr.  Rosemary Ricciardelli is Professor (PhD, Sociology) in the School of Maritime Studies and Research Chair in Safety, Security, and Wellness, at Memorial University’s Fisheries and Marine Institute. She leads a longitudinal study on the mental health and well-being experiences of correctional officers employed by Correctional Services Canada.

Dr. Jody Burnett is a Registered Doctoral Psychologist with the Saskatchewan College of Psychologists who has been providing service to the general public, specializing in service provision to first responders/public safety personnel and their families for the past 19 years. She is a Clinical Research Associate and Therapist at PSPNET with the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT) and is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Regina.

April Sawatzky Regional Manager, EAP-CISM has spent the last 18 years working with Correctional Service of Canada. She has a passion for helping and supporting the mental health and well-being of CSC employees and families.

Patty Stewart McCord Executive Director Saskatchewan Critical Incident Stress Management Network. Patty has been actively involved in CISM since 1992. She is a Faculty member with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) and teaches a variety of group and individual crisis intervention courses.

Dr. Nick Carleton Scientific Director at the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT) and Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Regina. Dr. Carleton is actively involved in clinical and experimental research, with his interests including the biopsychosocial measurement, assessment, and treatment

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Date & Time: Sept 22, 2022 11:00 am CST (1:00 pm EDT)

Families of Public Safety Personnel serve alongside their loved ones in these high-risk professions and look to their organizations to recognize and respond to the unique challenges they face. There is a range of ways families are being included within organizations across sectors across Canada. We have invited four organizations to share their experiences in bringing families forward. We will highlight how and why they started their efforts and what strategies they are using, along with what challenges and opportunities they encountered in working to recognize and invest in family forward policy and programs.

Panel Participants

Chief Bruce Krauter at Essex-Windsor EMS (ON)

Mayram Traub, PCP, Psychological Wellness Facilitator, Peer Support Team Coordinator from Niagara EMS (ON)

Staff Sgt. Kyle Johnstone from the St. Thomas Police Force (ON)

Reverend Jim Short, MMM CD, Chaplain at Delta Fire and Emergency Services (BC)

Information gathered from this event will play a vital role in growing a network that will serve and support PSP families across Canada. Following the event, attendees will be asked to complete a survey to inform the format, frequency, and themes of future PSP Families Network activities.

We would like to acknowledge the support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Partnership Development Grant (Families matter: A partnership of partners to study, serve, and support the families of military, veterans, and public safety personnel) with partners the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT), the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR), and the Vanier Institute of the Family, along with Medavie Foundation.

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Date & Time: August 18, 2022 11:00 CST (1:00 pm EDT)

The Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) program was created by the Department of National Defense (DND) to build awareness of mental illness and operational stress injuries (OSIs) through education. The goal of R2MR is to improve short-term performance and long-term mental health outcomes in Public Safety Personnel (PSP), as well as provide key resiliency and mental toughness skills. Research has shown that R2MR benefits Public Safety Personnel (PSP) in terms of short-term psychological functioning, mitigating long-term mental health problems, resiliency training, and increasing positive attitudes toward mental health and help-seeking.

CIPSRT has received funding via the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to develop Training and Development programming for PSP. This includes launching a Train the Trainer program for R2MR, new online initiatives for R2MR and other training programming. Learn more about the R2MR training program and how it can be used, resources available and the new learning being developed.

Presenters:

Rachel Werrett: Manager, Training and Development CIPSRT

Rachel Werrett, CAPM, MBA, is the Manager, Training and Development for CIPSRT. She previously served as the interim CIPSRT Operations Manager (March 2020 – May 2021) and worked in positions responsible for program development, business development, and management within the University of Regina’s Centre for Continuing Education (2011-2020). Her mix of project management and program implementation skills, expertise in continuing professional education, and business acumen ensures that all programs offered as part of CIPSRT’s training pillar are responsive to the needs of Canadian PSP members and their families, PSP leaders, and public safety organizations.

Sgt. Sheri Wild: R2MR Master Trainer and Police and Crisis Team (PACT), Regina Police Service

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Date & time: June 23, 2022 11:00am CST (1:00 pm EDT)

Public Safety Personnel (PSP) routinely experience traumatic events in their careers, with higher rates of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and other mental health conditions compared to most other careers. Mental health conditions are often treatable and many people are able to return to life as normal. However, some people who go through trauma describe an experience called posttraumatic growth: a sense of strengthened relationships, rebalanced priorities, deepened self-confidence, and renewed appreciation for life. How does posttraumatic growth happen? Can it be fostered on purpose? We will explore what posttraumatic growth is – and what it isn’t! – with a focus on the unique trauma experienced by PSP. If you read this summary with raised eyebrows and skeptical disbelief that anything good could ever come out of trauma, this presentation is meant for you.

Presenter

Dr. Samantha Horswill is a Registered Doctoral Psychologist. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Regina, where her research explored rates of PTSD in Saskatchewan police officers. Her clinical training included placements with RCMP “F” Division Health Services and the Calgary Operational Stress Injury Clinic. Dr. Horswill now works in private practice in Saskatoon, where she provides empirically-supported trauma treatment to Public Safety Personnel, healthcare workers, and Canadian Forces Veterans.

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Date & Time: June 9, 2022 11:00 am CST (1:00 pm EDT)

This session will cover the following in the context of the individual and the organization:

– Mental Health

– Mental Health Disabilities

– Prevention Continuum of Care

– Work Stress & Organizational Stressors and Risk Factors

– Establishing organizational and individualized engagement and resilience pathways

Presenter:

Dr. Katy Kamkar, Ph.D., C. Psych. is a clinical psychologist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto. She is an Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. She is the Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Fire Investigators (CAFI). She is the Chair of Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association Inc. (GLEPHA), Health and Wellness of Police/ First Responders; and Past Chair of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Traumatic Stress Section.

This session will be presented in English

This is a live event and it will not be recorded

Date & Time: May 12, 2022 9:00 am (11:00 am EST)

Communicating about trauma was the top priority recognized by participants at the recent launch of the Families Matter Research Group. In response, we invite families of PSP to join us as we welcome two therapists who specialize in working with individuals who have been exposed to trauma as well as those who are close to them. Dr. Tim Black, R. Psych., Associate Professor of Counselling Psychology – University of Victoria, National Clinical Co-Advisor – Wounded Warriors Canada, will discuss trauma – what it is and why we need to deal with it, and Dr. Rachel Dekel, Full Professor in the School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Israel, will discuss how trauma can present itself in couples. A moderated question and answer session will follow — participants can safely and anonymously submit questions ahead of time as well as during the event.

While this is an open event and all are welcome, please note, registration is required. Information gathered from this event will play a central role in growing a network that will serve and support PSP families across Canada. Following the event, attendees will be asked to complete a survey to inform the format, frequency, and themes of future PSP Families Network activities.

We would like to acknowledge the support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Partnership Development Grant (Families matter: A partnership of partners to study, serve, and support the families of military, veterans, and public safety personnel) with partners the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT), the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR), and the Vanier Institute of the Family, along with Medavie Health Foundation.

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Date & Time: April 21, 2022 11:00 am CST (1:00 pm EST)

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), like all public safety personnel (PSP), are frequently exposed to potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTEs). PPTEs contribute to substantial and growing challenges from posttraumatic stress injuries (PTSIs). Addressing the challenges has been limited by a lack of research.

In 2016 the RCMP partnered with Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton to run a groundbreaking study with RCMP cadets beginning in training and following them through their first five years on the job. The RCMP Study is part of a concerted effort to reduce PTSI by improving access to evidence-based assessments, treatments, and training.

The study was designed to:

• Develop, deploy, and assess the impact of a system for ongoing evidence-based assessments
• Evaluate associations between demographic variables and PTSI
• Assess individual differences associated with PTSI longitudinally
• Augment the RCMP cadet training program with skills that proactively mitigate PTSI
• Assess the difference between the standard program and the new augmented one

Learn more about this remarkable study, which is being expanded to other PSP sectors, and how the work may benefit participants’ mental health.

Presenter: Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton, Scientific Director of CIPSRT

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Presentation slides

Date & Time: March 10, 2022 11:00 am CST (12:00 pm EST)

Following the template of our PTSD Crash Course Dr. Vivien Lee will be discussing Depression in a PSP context.

In this session Dr. Lee will answer Depression questions like:

-What are the symptoms? How can I tell when sadness or feeling down develop into clinical depression?

– How does depression develop?

– How do I recognize the symptoms in others?

– How do the brain and body change when you have depression?

– What are the treatments for Depression?

Join us to find out the answers to these questions and have a chance to ask some of your own as we explore the facts on Depression.

Presenter

Dr. Vivien Lee, C.Psych., is the Chief Psychologist and Bureau Commander of the Healthy Workplace Team for the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Canada’s second-largest police service. Dr. Lee is the clinical advisor for Boots on the Ground, which provides 24/7 telephone peer support to first responders across Ontario. She is a clinical advisor and a Board Director for Toronto Beyond the Blue, which provides support to families of Toronto Police Service members. She is the Chair of the Service Provider reference group at the Centre of Excellence – PTSD).

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Date & Time : February 10, 2022 – 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CST (12:00 -1:00 pm EST)

Come and learn more about this resiliency program that is expanding across the country. Dr. Megan McElheran, the developer of the program, will provide an overview and be available to answer questions.

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Date: January 27, 2022

Time: 11:00 am- 1:00 pm EST

Dr. Heidi Cramm of the Families Matter Research Group will lead the event with Lisa Delaney, Community Development Manager. After some quick introductions, we will move into moderated breakout rooms where attendees will explore the important questions of “What do PSP families need to know about what it means to be on the job?” and “What needs to be done to support PSP families in the future?” 

While this is an open event and all are welcome; please note, registration is required. Information gathered from this event will play a central role in activating and growing a network that will serve and support PSP families across Canada. Following the event, attendees will be asked to complete a survey to inform the format, frequency, and themes of future PSP Families Network activities. 

Date & time- Jan 13, 2022 9:30 AM CST (10:30 EST)

Session will be 75 minutes

Description:

We need to sleep to live, but we should never live to sleep. Finding a balance between sleep needs and living a demanding lifestyle can be difficult. Understanding the fundamentals of sleep will give you the information you need to know what sleep behaviours to prioritize.

• Spend an hour increasing your sleep IQ and sleep health.
• Learn how your sleep system works and how to make it work for you.
• Learn which commonly held beliefs such as, “All adults need 8 hours of sleep,” are actually myths
• Identify whether you have a sleep problem and learn what treatments are effective.

Presenter:

Dr. Colleen E. Carney is a Professor at Ryerson University and the Director of the Sleep and Depression Laboratory. She is the President of the Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies Behavioural Sleep Medicine Special Interest Group. Dr. Carney is a leading expert on the cognitive behavioural insomnia treatment for those with comorbid illness. She has over 20 years of experience in behavioural sleep medicine, with over 100 publications, including 10 books on CBT for insomnia. Dr. Carney trains students and professionals in behavioural sleep medicine internationally and is a passionate advocate for improving access to evidence based treatments for insomnia.

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Date & time Dec 9, 2021 11:00 AM CST, 12:00 pm EST

Description: Workplace mental health is relevant to public safety organizations due to the exposure that many public safety personnel (PSP) have to psychological trauma in the course of their daily work. While the importance of attending to PSP mental health has been established, the implementation of workplace mental health interventions is not as well understood. This webinar will present a scoping review that found 89 relevant citations that were largely published within the last decade, most frequently from Western nations, and most often applied to police, followed by firefighters. Interventions focused most often on stress management and resilience, and a frequent implementation strategy was multi-session group training. Comprehensive quality improvement initiatives, a focus on supervisors and managers, and interventions across primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention, were infrequent. A focus across a range of PSP, including paramedics, corrections officers, and emergency dispatchers, using implementation strategies beyond group training, is suggested. Participants will have the chance to discuss this review and consider the application of its finding to their public safety settings.

Presented in English

Presenter : Dr. Megan Edgelow, Assistant Professor at Queens University

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Date & Time: Dec 1  11:00 am CST, 12:00 pm EST

Join Dr. Jill Price as she explores the PSP Mental Health Website. This webinar will share how the site was developed and demonstrate the functions of the website, which allows public safety personnel from across Canada to identify the mental health services that are available to them.

Presented in English

Presenter: Dr. Jill Price

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Date & Time: Nov 18, 2021 11:00 AM CST, 12:00 PM EST

The goals for this talk are as follows:

1. Provide attendees with information about what job-related burnout is and isn’t. This includes an overview of the three main dimensions of burnout.
2. Discuss research highlighting the main causes of job-related burnout.
3. Discuss research showing the prevalence of job-related burnout and it’s health correlates and outcomes, with an emphasis on physical and mental health.
4. Discuss the effectiveness of programs designed to prevent workplace burnout.
5. Discuss evidence for mental health interventions designed to reduce workplace burnout in employees.

Presented by: Dr. Donald McCreary

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Date & Time- Oct 14, 2021 11:00 am CST (1:00 pm EST)

The global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has introduced PSP to greater levels of threat and uncertainty at work. PSP have experienced an increased risk of contracting the virus and spreading the infection to their household and professional network. The additional contribution of COVID-19 to PSP mental disorder symptoms and the ability to cope with occupational stressors largely remains unknown.

Dr. Greg Anderson will present survey data collected from firefighters, paramedics, and communication officials in B.C. during the height of the pandemic in late 2020 and early 2021. The survey examined exposure to COVID-19 and the impact of COVID-19 on home and work life. This data will be compared to data collected before the pandemic to illustrate possible impacts of the pandemic and escalating public health order restrictions.

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Date & Time- Sept 28, 2021 11:00 am CST (1:00 pm EST)

This webinar will explore PSPNET following a participant case sample from start to finish, providing a deeper understanding of the application, treatment and evaluation process.

Presenter: Dr. Jody Burnett

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Date & Time- Sept 16, 2021 11:00 am CST (1:00 pm EST)

This presentation will review the literature on suicide in public service personnel, compare what we know with the general population and conclude with suggestions about how to prevent suicides in public safety personnel.

Presenter: Dr. Simon Hatcher

Acting Chair Department of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa

Staff Psychiatrist at the Ottawa Hospital and Ottawa Inner City Health

Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

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Date & Time: June 24, 2021, 11:00 CST (1:00 pm EST)

Research shows that public safety personnel (PSP) are more likely to experience posttraumtic stress disorder (PTSD) than members the general public. But what exactly is PTSD? What causes it and how can it be treated?

In this crash course Clinical Psychologist Dr. Megan McElheran will answer PTSD questions like:

• What are the symptoms?
• How do you get PTSD? Is it from one incident or can it happen after years working as a PSP?
• Is PTSD always like you see on TV?
• How do I recognize the symptoms in others?
• What kind of treatments are available?

Join us to find out the answers to these questions and have a chance to ask some of your own as we explore the facts on PTSD.

Presenter: Dr. Megan McElheran, Wayfound Mental Health Group, Chair of CIPSRT’s clinical sub-committee.

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Date & Time- June 10, 2021 11:00 am CST (1:00 pm EST)

Moral Injury (MI) is a type of psychological stress response. This response may include feelings of guilt, shame, anger, betrayal and the loss of self that may arise from exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs.) PMIEs may be the result of an action the person perpetrates, fails to prevent, or witnesses. If left unaddressed, these events can lead to MI.

While studies of MI began with military personnel and Veterans, researchers and mental health professionals are now highlighting that PSP likely also experience MI. PSP may experience MI due to regular exposure to distressing situations in which they may not be able to uphold their values, prevent harm, or keep people safe. These difficulties may intensify in the COVID-19 context given the unprecedented size and scope of the pandemic and the on-the-ground challenges it continues to pose.

Session Objectives:

• Understand what moral injury is and how it differs from other responses to stress and trauma
• Learn some examples of potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) reported in research on MI in public safety settings
• Learn about the mental health outcomes associated with MI and how to recognize them in yourself and others
• Learn practical techniques and approaches to address the potential mental health impacts of PMIEs and to prevent moral injury, whether you’re on the frontline or in a leadership role.

Presenter: Fardous Hosseiny

Fardous Hosseiny is the Deputy CEO and Vice President of Research and Public Policy at the Centre of Excellence on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Related Mental Health Conditions (CoE). Previously, Fardous was the interim National Chief Executive Officer and the National Director of Research and Public Policy, at the Canadian Mental Health Association.

His research focuses on strategic policy issues related to mental health system transformation, parity legislation, substance use and addiction and mental health for newcomers and underrepresented groups.

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Date & Time- May 13, 2021 11:00 am CST (1:00 pm EST)

On a daily basis, public safety personnel (PSP) are often faced with extraordinary physical, emotional, and social challenges as they serve to bring peace, rescue, and emergent medical response to the public. As mental health professionals, we are finding ways to support and provide intervention to first responders as they cope with operational stress, but we may have neglected to address the needs and the strengths of the PSP family members who are the “first responders to the first responders.” This webinar will explore the recent literature on how operational stress impacts PSP families and share new results from a study on the strengths and needs of Canadian police, fire, and paramedic members and their families. The voices of PSP family members will be prominent in this webinar.

Presenter : Dr. Kelly Dean Schwartz, Associate Professor in the School and Applied Child Psychology at the University of Calgary
https://www.buildingonstrengths.ca/
Panelist: Tara Ernst, President Calgary Beyond the Blue

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Date & Time: May 5, 2021 11:00am CST (1:00 pm EST)

PSPNET was created to deliver and evaluate Internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy, also known as ICBT, to Public Safety Personnel (PSP) in response to the Government of Canada’s National Action Plan on Posttraumatic Stress Injuries.

This French only webinar will take a deep dive into PSPNET and discuss what factors appear to make ICBT effective.

Presented by Dr. Amélie Fournier, Principle psychologist, Quebec PSPNET

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Virtual Town Hall:

Date & Time- April 15, 2021 11:00 am CST (1:00 pm EST)

Peer support programs have become a common tool to support and protect the mental health of public safety personnel.  With new programs and apps being developed, CIPSRT wanted to explore what makes a successful peer support program. We have asked members from Ottawa peer support groups to share how they have organized their programs. How did they set up the program and choose the peer supporters? Do they offer training to the peer supporters? How does leadership support their efforts?  Our presenters will answer these questions and many more as they share their experiences of leading peer support groups in the nation’s capital.

Presenters:

Scott Patey
Peer Support Member, Ottawa Fire Services
Lorraine Downey
Coordinator of the Ottawa Paramedic Peer Support Group
Brent MacIntyre
Peer Support Coordinator, Ottawa Police Service

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Presentation slides

March 10, 2021 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CST

Join us for this session on how organizations are helping their PSP members deal with the stress of the opioid crisis. A clinical psychologist will also be on hand to offer insight on how the crisis might be affecting public safety personnel.

Presenters:

Dr. Megan McElheran
Wayfound Mental Health Group, Chair of CIPSRT’s clinical sub-committee

Chief Pierre Poirier
Chief of Ottawa Paramedic Service and Executive Director of the Paramedic Association of Canada

Deputy Commissioner Steven White
Deputy Commissioner Specialized Policing Services RCMP

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Public safety personnel (PSP) are often tasked with managing potentially psychologically traumatic critical incidents. Reintegration to their work environment after experiencing a critical incident should balance the needs of the PSP to return to work with protecting them from the potential for long-term psychological injury. In this session we explore the work of the Edmonton Police service reintegration program.

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EPS reintegration program overview

EPS reintegration program- How to build one

Final report on Impact of EPS reintegration program

Date and Time: February 25, 2021, 12:00 -1:00 pm EST, 11:00 am -12:00 pm CST

Projects:

Mental ill-health in firefighters deployed to the Fort McMurray fire

Scientific Presenter:

• Dr. Jean- Michel Galarneau, University of Alberta

Suicide among Public Safety Personnel compared to the General Population in Ontario: A case-control study

Scientific Presenter:

• Dr. Simon Hatcher, Vice-chair research, Department of Psychiatry at University of Ottawa

Knowledge User:

• Zach Cantor

Understanding the impact of prison work on the mental health of Correctional Officers employed by Correctional Services Canada: Beginning a longitudinal study

Scientific Presenter:

• Dr. Rose Ricciardelli, Professor of Sociology at Memorial University Newfoundland

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Knowledge translation report

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Service Delivery Infographic

The goal of this series is to bring community partners and researchers together to learn best practices for community based research and knowledge mobilization.

Session 1: What is Community Based Research?

February 10, 2021 12:00 pm- 1:00 pm CST

This webinar is designed for not-for-profit or public sector groups wishing to partner with researchers at a university, or organizations with
previous partnerships that hope to have more impactful outcomes from future collaborations with post-secondary education partners. The goal
of the session is to provide a better understanding of the benefits of partnering with universities and how to create research relationships that lead to impactful outcomes.

Presenter: Dr. Lynn Gidluck, Community Director of University of Regina’s Community Engagement and Research Centre (CERC)

Speakers:

Candace Giblett, Education Officer, Regina Fire and Protective Services

Lynn Fernandez, Manitoba Research Alliance

Jody Linklater, CEO of Clean Communities Corporation

Watch Video

Presentation Slides

Beginners guide to community based research

Partner guide to research involvement

Session 2: What is Knowledge Mobilization?

February 17, 2021 12:00 pm- 1:00 pm CST

This webinar is targeted to faculty, instructors, staff and students currently or hoping to do community-based research. A presentation
introducing the basics of Knowledge Mobilization (KM) followed by a panel of senior academics, with successful research careers, will share their
strategies for effective KM and speak to how to make non-traditional outputs and efforts “count” when it comes time for tenure and promotion.
Together with their community partners, we will provide the audience with ideas about how to make KM plans more than a section on a grant application.

Presenter: Emilie Kossick, MA, Knowledge Manager at the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT)

Speakers:

Dr. Joy MacDermid, Clinical epidemiologist, physiotherapist, and Professor of Physical Therapy at Western University

Dr. Charles Z. Levkoe, Associate Professor and Canadian Research Chair in Sustainable Food Systems, Health Sciences Department Lakehead University

Dr. Nadine Changfoot, Associate Professor of Political Studies at Trent University

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Presentation Slides

Knowledge Mobilization infographic

Knowledge Mobilization Framework- Dr. MacDermid

Session 3: Building Successful Partnerships

February 24, 2021 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CST

This webinar will bring the target audiences from the first two webinars together and focus on the key steps to building successful research
partnerships. University researchers and their community partners will share their experience – what worked, what they had to learn to make
things more successful, tips for others looking to do community involved research.

Moderator: Dr. Shannon Dea, Dean of Arts and Professor of Philosophy and Classics at the University of Regina

Speakers:

Michael Johnny, Manager of Knowledge Mobilization at York University

Yvonne Hanson, Provincial Network Manager at Primary an Integrated Healthcare and Innovations Network, University of Saskatchewan

Sgt. Casey Ward, Regina Police Service, President of the Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers

Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Regina, Scientific Director of CIPSRT

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Presentation Slides

Slides from Yvonne Hanson

The collaborators on this project believe in supporting the movement to educate researchers on how to disseminate research more effectively. Research can only benefit the community if it is meaningful, relevant and accessible for stakeholder groups, communities, sectors, and decision-makers, who are in a position to act upon the findings and recommendations. This webinar series and associated materials are part of a larger project funded by Research Impact Canada through a grant from the Future Skills Centre.

For a full listing of events and speakers click here

February 11, 2021: 12:00-1:00 pm EST, 11:00am – 12:00pm CST

Projects:

Firefighters accessing care for trauma: A clinical case series testing the efficacy of distance-delivered narrative exposure therapy in reducing PTSD symptoms

Scientific Presenter:

• Dr. Janine Olthuis, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick

Knowledge User:

• TBD

A smartphone ecological momentary assessment ‘app’ for collecting real-time data on posttraumatic stress injuries in firefighters

Scientific Presenter:

• Dr. Stephane Guay, Professor University of Montreal

Knowledge User:

• Michel Amesse

Cross-jurisdiction and contextual evaluations of mental health resiliency training in firefighters

Scientific Presenter:

• Dr. Joy MacDermid, Professor of Physical Therapy, Western University

Knowledge User:

• Steve Fraser

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Date and Time: January 28, 2021, 12:00 -1:00 pm EST, 11:00 am- 12:00 pm CST

Projects:

Evaluating Critical Incident Management and Peer Support Programs for Public Safety Personnel
(NPI: Nick Carleton)

Scientific Presenter:

• Dr. Jill Price, Post-doctoral fellow at CIPSRT

Knowledge User:

• Jeff Sych, R.Psych Clinical Director, Alberta Critical Incident Provincial Network

Identifying the impact of formal and informal critical incident interventions on firefighters’ exposure to posttraumatic stress injury in a Northwestern Ontario fire service

Scientific Presenter:

• Dr. Kathryn Sinden, Assistant Professor, School of Kinesiology Lakehead University

Knowledge User:

• Regan Bolduc

Psychological First Aid For Emergency Medical Technicians to Prevent Post-Traumatic Stress Injuries after Exposure to a Traumatic Event: Can it work?

Scientific Presenter:

• Dr. Steve Geoffrion, Associate professor University of Montreal
• Marine Tessier, Project researcher, Universite de Montreal

Knowledge User:

• Thérésa Choisi

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Knowledge Translation Report

Date and Time: January 14, 2021, 12:00 -1:00 pm EST, 11:00 am- 12:00 pm CST

Projects:

“e-Ami”: Co-designing a mobile health approach to PTSI prevention and peer support with Ontario public safety personnel

Scientific Presenter:

• Dr. Sandra Moll, Associate Professor, McMaster University School of Rehabilitation Science

Knowledge User:

• Dave McClennan

Understanding the Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders in Provincial Correctional Officers – A National Study

Scientific Presenter:

• Dr. Dianne Groll, Associate Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology Queens University

Knowledge User:

• Tina Flood

Research 101 for Public Safety Personnel: Course Development and Pilot Testing

Scientific Presenter:

• Dr. Michelle McCarron, Research Scientist Saskatchewan Health Authority

Knowledge User:

• Donna Milo

Knowledge Translation Report

Date and Time: December 17, 2020, 12:00 -1:00 pm EST, 11:00 am -12:00 pm CST

Projects:

An interdisciplinary and mixed method analysis of the Correctional Services Canada Academy’s 13-week Correctional Personnel Training program: Building a ‘toolbox’ for correctional officer mental health and occupational success by identifying ways to optimize the impact of training for public safety personnel

Scientific Presenter:

• Dr. Rose Ricciardelli, Professor of Sociology at Memorial University

Knowledge User:

• Dr. Sylvain Mongrain Correctional Services Canada

Do cognitive behavioral therapy skills classes increase a resiliency-related brain connectivity pattern to posttraumatic stress disorder?

Scientific Presenter:

• Dr. Ji Hyun Ko, Assistant Professor at the University of Manitoba
• Dr. Natalie Mota, Department of Clinical Health at the University of Manitoba

Knowledge User:

• Scott Wilkinson

Compromised Conscience: Towards Managing Moral Injuries in Public Safety Personnel

Scientific Presenter:

• Dr. David Malloy, Professor & Principal Kings University College at Western University
• Dr. Liana Lentz, Postdoctoral Researcher at Western University
• Dr. Lorraine Smith-Macdonald Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Alberta

Knowledge Translation Report

Date and Time: December 10, 2020
9:00 am PT, 10:00 am MT, 11:00 am CST, 12:00 pm ET, 1:00 pm AT, 1:30 pm NT

Presenter:

Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton
CIPSRT Scientific director

Pierre Poirier
Chief of the Ottawa Paramedic Service
Executive Director of the Paramedic Association of Canada

Description:

The opioid crisis is a problem that existed before the current pandemic, but the changes brought by the pandemic have shone a light on the mental health toll that those working on the front lines face when dealing with cases of opioid overdose. This virtual town hall will provide a forum for working public safety personnel to share their experiences of the opioid crisis. The session’s goal is to start a dialogue about how we can protect those on the front line from the potentially lasting trauma of this crisis.

We encourage mental health professionals or those looking to join the mental health field to join CIPSRT for this important forum.

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Date and Time: November 26, 2020, 12:00 -1:00 pm EST, 11:00 am- 12:00 pm CST

Projects:

Unpacking the Sociocultural Characteristics of Operational Stress Injury Among Paramedics: a Mixed Methods Approach

Scientific Presenter:

• Dr. Meghan McConnell, Assistant Professor, University of Ottawa
• Justin Mausz, PhD candidate at McMaster University and an Advanced Care Paramedic

Development and validation of a mental health screening tool for public safety professionals

Scientific Presenter:

• Dr. Greg Anderson, Dean, Faculty of Science, Thompson Rivers University

Mapping resilience pathways and preferences for help-seeking of public safety personnel in the context of post-traumatic stress injuries: A community engaged research project in Ontario

Scientific Presenter:

• Dr. Eliana Suarez, Associate Professor Faculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University
• Dr. Eleanor McGrath, Research Associate, Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University

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Date and Time: November 18, 2020
9:00 am PT, 10:00 am MT, 11:00 am CST, 12:00 pm ET, 1:00 pm AT, 1:30 pm NT

Presenter: Andreanne Angehrn (MA)

Panelists:
Lucie Tremblay

Deputy Chief of Police VIA Rail Canada Police Service
Secretary of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) Human Resources and Learning Committee

Vaughn Charlton

Director Gender-based Analysis at the RCMP

Micki Ruth

Chair of the Edmonton Police Commission, President of the
Canadian Association of Police Governance

Description:

Men and women police officers experience high stress levels due to their occupations. Women police officers in particular
experience higher levels of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and anxiety when compared to men police officers.
Women’s policing experience may vastly differ than their men colleagues.
This talk will discuss information gathered in a study of Saskatchewan Police officers. The study was designed to:
• Examine the reality of men and women police officers through interviews;
• Explore the distinctions and similarities between men and women’s policing experience;
• Understand how gender differences in occupational experiences may be related to police officers’ in mental health.

We will follow the presentation with a panel discussion with current police officers.

This session will be held was a bilingual event.

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Date and Time: November 5, 2020, 12:00 -12:45 pm EST, 11:00 -11:45 am CST

Projects:

A randomized control trial examining the treatment efficacy of a novel approach to cognitive remediation in public safety personnel with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and co-morbid conditions

Scientific Presenter:

Dr. Margaret McKinnon, Homewood Chair in Mental Health and Trauma, Associate Professor and Associate Chair, Research | Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University

Knowledge Translation Report

Presentation Slides

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October 22, 2020 : 1:00 – 1:45 pm EST, 11:00 – 11:45 am CST

Project 1: Pan Canadian Public Safety Personnel: Ongoing Knowledge Translation and Strategic Development

Presented by: Dr. Nick Carleton Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology University of Regina

Knowledge user: Sgt. Casey Ward, Regina Police Service and the President, Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers

This project used data gathered from public safety personnel (PSP). The team worked collaboratively with investigators, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate students to identify key research questions about the PSP population (e.g. suicide rates, mental illness rates).

Project 2: The SKIP study: Sudarshan Kriya Yoga In Post traumatic stress injury (SKIP), an RCT for Public Safety Personnel

Presented by: Dr. Paris Lai, Psychiatry Resident, Western University,
Dr. Akshya Vasudev, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurosciences Western University

Knowledge user: Steve Stokan, London Police Service

Current treatments for PTSI include medications and talk therapy. While these therapies, alone or in combination, show meaningful improvement for PTSI, they can be costly and time-intensive. These drawbacks mean that there is an urgent need for alternative forms of therapy that are reasonably cheap and easily deliverable in the community. The goal of the current study is to examine the efficacy and safety of a community-based program of alternative treatments. These treatments include Sudarshan Kriya yoga (SKY) and the Health Enhancement Program (HEP).

Knowledge Translation Report – Project 1

Knowledge Translation Report- Project 2

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Date:  Oct 15, 2020 10:30 am PST, 11:30 am CST, 12:30 pm CD, 1:30 pm EST, 2:30 pm MST, 3:00 pm NST

Description:

Canadian front line workers, including those in the emergency management field can be deployed or activated during prolonged emergencies like the response to the current pandemic. As we work our way through this emergency we need to explore ways to make sure front line workers are resilient and mentally able to handle the stresses and demands of the next phase of the pandemic. During this virtual town hall we will discuss ways to, recognize and prevent burnout, and take better care of ourselves and our teams.

Presenters:

Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton, Scientific Director of CIPSRT, Professor of Psychology University of Regina

Jason Shaw, Assistant Chief of Emergency Preparedness, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service

Panelists:

Matthew Pegg, Chief of Toronto Fire Services, lead for Toronto’s COVID-19 response

Tom Sampson, Chief of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency

Download the presentation here

Download Poster : OCT 15 VTH EN

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Date: September 29, 2020 10:00 AM PST, 11:00 AM CST, 12:00 PM CDT, 13:00 PM EST, 14:00 PM AST, 14:30 NST

Presenter: 

Dr. Heather Hadjistavropoulos

Professor of Psychology at the University of Regina, Founder and Executive Director of the Online Therapy Unit, and principal investigator of the Public Safety Personnel Internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (PSPNET) team

Description:

As part of the Government of Canada’s National Action Plan on Posttraumatic Stress Injuries, PSPNET was created to deliver and evaluate Internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy, also known as ICBT, tailored specifically to benefit Public Safety Personnel (PSP). ICBT is designed to improve depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress injuries. PSPNET is based at the University of Regina as part of the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT).

In this webinar, Dr. Heather Hadjistavropoulos will provide an overview of: 1) how PSPNET was developed; 2) what services are offered; 3) interim outcomes in terms of client use and symptom improvement; and 4) new directions for PSPNET, including a new course specifically focussed on posttraumatic stress disorder and the launch of PSPNET in French for PSP in Quebec.

Dr. Heather Hadjistavropoulos is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Regina, Founder and Executive Director of the Online Therapy Unit, and principal investigator of the Public Safety Personnel Internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (PSPNET) team. Dr. Hadjistavropoulos is one of Canada’s leading scholars in the area of digital mental health.

Download Poster: PSPNET Virtual Town Hall EN

Date: September 10, 2020 10:00 AM PST, 11:00 AM CST, 12:00 PM CDT, 13:00 PM EST, 14:00 PM AST, 14:30 NST

Presenter: 

Dr. Peter Cornish

Psychologist, Honorary Research Professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Founder & President of Stepped Care Solutions – the Lead Administrative Partner for Wellness Together Canada, Director Counseling and Psychological Services, University of California – Berkeley.

Moderator:

Dr. Alexandra Heber, MD FRCPC CCPE

Chief of Psychiatry, Veterans Affairs Canada, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Chair, CIPSRT COVID 19 Task Force

Description:

This is an introduction to the Wellness Together Canada mental health service portal which offers free basic mental health programming to all peoples of Canada. The one-stop portal offers a wide range of youth and adult programming including educational resources, self-guided tools, coaching, a community of support, and counselling by text, phone or video. Programming is offered in French and English, access is 24/7 and there are no wait times.

Download Poster: Sept 10 VTH EN

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Date: June 22, 2020 10:00 AM PST, 11:00 AM CST, 12:00 PM CDT, 13:00 PM EST, 14:00 PM AST, 14:30 NST

Presenter: 

Meghan Provost

Director, Workplace Wellness & Employee Wellbeing

Correctional Service of Canada / Government of Canada

Description:

The Steering Committee for Mental Health Injuries at the Correctional Service of Canada is hosting a presentation and panel discussion related to supporting employees in using self-care strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic and as we work together to shape the new normal.

Download Poster: June 22 Town Hall

Date: June 18, 2020 10:00 AM PST/ 11:00 AM CST/ 12:00 PM CDT/ 1:00 PM EST/ 2:00 PM AST/ 2:30 PM NST

Presenter: 

Dr. Ken Balderson MD,CM FRCP(C)

Description:

This Town Hall will provide a brief review of the psychological impacts on healthcare workers involved in patient care during the SARS outbreak and of the social and occupational factors associated with psychological outcomes.  The lessons learned from the SARS outbreak may help mitigate psychological impacts of workers dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Ken Balderson MD,CM FRCP(C) is a Consultant Psychiatrist with the St. Joseph’s Operational Stress Injury Clinic and is Adjunct Professor at Western University. During the SARS outbreak he was the Medical Director of the Inpatient Mental Health Program at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and was a Coauthor for the Impact of SARS Study.

Download Poster: June 18 Town Hall

Date: June 11^th, 2020- 10:00 AM PST, 11:00 AM CST, 12:00 PM CDT, 13:00 PM EST, 14:00 PM AST, 14:30 NST

Presenters:

Randy Mellow

Chief, Peterborough Paramedic Service

President, Paramedic Chiefs of Canada

Member, CIPSRT Public Safety Steering Committee

Dr. Ronald D. Camp II, Ph.D., ICD.D

Co-academic Director, ICD/Rotman Directors Education Program (SK)

Associate professor (leadership & Governance), UofR Hill-Levene Schools of Business

Description:

This Question and Answer Session will provide additional discussion to Virtual Town Hall held on May 7, 2020, CIPSRT titled PSP Leadership & Mental Health (to view the Part 1 recording, click here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/5231826376406792716). Part 1 focused on the stresses that PSP and their leadership face. The presenters discussed some best practices for how leaders can create positive work environments.

In this follow-up town hall, a panel of leaders will be taking your questions on how to apply those best practices to your workplace. This question and answer session, offers a unique opportunity to explore issues that you have experienced in the workplace while learning new skills that can help you improve your work environment.

CIPSRT is asking interested PSP and PSP leadership to submit questions or scenarios prior to the Question & Answer Session. With advanced notice, the panel will be able to provide robust and useful solutions. Privacy will be maintained for anyone who submits a question or scenario; panelists will only be given the question and identify the sector. You do not need to attend the event to have your question answered. If you are unable to attend, you can view your question and the panel’s response on the CIPSRT recording.

Time permitting, additional questions or scenarios may be allowed during the Question and Answer Session. Submit your question to the panel by emailing covid19@cipsrt-icrtsp.ca by June 4, 2020.

Download : June 11 Town Hall

Date: May 28th, 2020 10:00 AM PST, 11:00 AM CST, 12:00 PM CDT, 13:00 PM EST, 14:00 PM AST, 14:30 NL

For everyone parenting is full of highs and lows. Parenting as public safety personnel has some added elements that can contribute to heightened emotions. In the face of the current pandemic, we live in an environment where being a parent may be even more challenging. As such, it is important for parents to be provided education and information that can help them understand the feelings and thoughts they are having as well as their children. In this short town hall attendees will learn about thoughts, feelings, and behaviour and how they are connected. The latter will be applied to the experiences and situations that are unfolding. Attendees will also be provided strategies that can be employed if they are struggling with their current situation. We will end with an opportunity to ask questions.

Download Poster: May 28 Town Hall EN

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Date : May 14^th, 2020 10:00 AM PST, 11:00 AM CST, 12:00 PM CDT, 13:00 PM EST, 14:00 PM AST, 14:30 NST

Presented by:

Dr. Kristi Wright

Associate Professor, University of Regina

Being a child of a first responder can incite great emotion, both positive and negative. In the face of the current pandemic, we live in an environment where being a child of a first responder may be even more challenging. As such, it is important for children to be provided education and information that can help them understand the feelings and thoughts they are having. In this short webinar children will learn, in an interactive manner, about feelings, body sensations, thoughts, and behaviours. We will discuss how feelings, body sensations, thoughts, and behaviours are connected. Children will also be provided strategies that can be employed when they are struggling with their current situation. We will end with an opportunity to ask questions.

Download Poster: May 14 Town Hall EN

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Date : May 7^th, 2020 10:00 AM PST, 11:00 AM CST, 12:00 PM CDT, 13:00 PM EST, 14:00 PM AST, 14:30 NST

Presented by:

Randy Mellow

Chief, Peterborough Paramedic Service
President, Paramedic Chiefs of Canada
Member, CIPSRT Public Safety Steering Committee

Dr. Ronald D. Camp II, Ph.D., ICD.D

Director of Training, CIPSRT (R2MR)
Co-academic Director, ICD/Rotman Directors Education Program (SK)
Associate Professor (Leadership & Governance), UofR Hill-Levene Schools of Business

Under the best of circumstances, public safety personnel (PSP) operate in an environment that creates high levels of uncertainty and anxiety. For PSP, this environmentally-induced uncertainty has been increased by the current Covid-19 pandemic. While much of this uncertainty comes from the public safety environment, and is beyond the control of both PSP and their leaders, there are things leaders can do to help PSP to better cope with this volatile, uncertain environment. In this town hall webinar, Chief Randy Mellow, Peterborough Paramedic Service, and Dr. Ron Camp, Hill-Levene Schools of Business, discuss how the PSP environment creates uncertainty and anxiety for PSP, how organizations may be contributing to this situation, and what leaders can do to help PSP reduce uncertainty and anxiety.

Download Poster: May 7 Town Hall EN

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Date: April 28th, 2020 10:00 AM PST, 11:00 AM CST, 12:00 PM CDT, 13:00 PM EST, 14:00 PM AST, 14:30 PM NST

Presented by Jeff Sych, Registered Psychologist
CEO of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation- Canada Inc.
Clinical Director of the Alberta Critical Incident Provincial Network

Stress is a part of every day life.
Stress for public safety personnel is unique due to the operational and organizational demands of their job.
Stress and the possibility of psychological injury increases during a large scale event, such as a pandemic.
For many public safety personnel, the unprecedented restrictions have disrupted their normal coping strategies.
This presentation will address the unique aspects of stress that public safety personnel face during COVID-19 as well as provide pragmatic ways of increasing one’s resistance and resiliency to the effects of this stress.

Download Poster: Webinar April 28, 2020

Date and Times: April 23, 2020 10:00 AM PST, 11:00 AM CST, 12:00 PM CDT, 13:00 PM EST, 14:00 PM AST, 14:30 PM NST

Many people serving in the healthcare and public safety sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic may be at risk of moral injury. That is, they may do, fail to prevent, or witness actions that violate their own moral beliefs or standards, or they may experience a sense of betrayal when they feel not adequately supported by organizations that have an obligation to do so. Reports out of Italy have already emerged, pointing towards the dire ethical choices faced by Italian physicians: e.g., should a young man in his thirties with an unclear cancer prognosis or otherwise healthy woman in her sixties receive access to the last remaining ventilator. How do our administrators and government leaders make decisions (e.g., who is redeployed to the ICU and who is redeployed to a relatively safer hospital unit? How are scarce resources distributed?) that may mean the difference between life and death for front-line personnel? Risk and resilience factors for moral injury among public safety personnel and healthcare workers will be discussed.

Download Poster: Webinar April 23, 2020

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Date: April 21st, 2020 10:00 AM PST, 11:00 AM CST, 1:00 pm EST, 2:00 pm AST, 2:30 PM NST

The commitment of Public Safety Personnel (PSP) to serving and caring for Canadians is extraordinary. Their professionalism, skills, and personal values are the bedrock of the services that PSP provide. The current COVID-19 pandemic, however, has fundamentally changed and destabilized the service provision context. What does evidence from past pandemics and disasters teach us about the moral dilemmas and wicked problems that PSP face, and the moral injuries that can sometimes result? This presentation will focus on the current tough decisions, moral dilemmas, and wicked problems confronted by PSP working on the frontlines of the COVID crisis. Never has there been a more important time to discuss the potential impact of moral injury on the health and wellbeing of PSP. We will discuss ways to prepare for and gird oneself against the negative impact of such circumstances, and the importance of intentionally engaging in practices that enable PSP to not only cope amidst struggles, but thrive in the face of them.

Download Poster: Webinar April 21, 2020

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Presented by the CIPSRT COVID-19 Readiness Resource Project

Dr. Jim Thompson will present a well-being framework that considers how a person is doing in the seven major domains of life ( health, employment/other purposeful activity, finances, life skills/preparedness, social integration, housing/physical environment and culture/social environment). The framework considers interacting wellness factors that affect a person’s well-being in each of these domains. This framework has been used to design supports for the well-being of groups like Canadian Military Veterans and can be used to help during the current Covid-19 pandemic. After a brief presentation on the frame work Dr. Thompson and a small panel of public safety personnel will take questions to help explore the ways the seven domains can help maintain the well-being of PSP.
Dr. Thompson, MD CCFP(EM) FCFP is the Research Medical Consultant with the Canadian Institute for Military & Veteran Health Research and an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at Queen’s University.

Download Poster: Webinar April 16, 2020

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