Why was the study done?
PSP report exposures to diverse and frequent potentially psychologically traumatic events and other occupational stressors, exacerbating risks for developing clinically significant mental health challenges. Multiple mental health disorder diagnoses increase risk for death by suicide and may partially explain the higher suicide risk among PSP. Shifts from suicidal ideation, to planning, to attempt may be particularly relevant for PSP due to first-hand duty-related exposures to pain, fear, and death. Moreover, PSP culture stresses the importance of resilient personnel and issues with mental health such as suicidal thoughts and behaviors may be seen as a weakness or professional risk to others; and therefore, PSP may be less likely to report these challenges. The current study was designed to estimate suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts among Canadian PSP, and assesses associations with Emotional Resilience Skills Training (ERST).
What was done in the study?
PSP report exposures to diverse and frequent potentially psychologically traumatic events and other occupational stressors, exacerbating risks for developing clinically significant mental health challenges. Multiple mental health disorder diagnoses increase risk for death by suicide and may partially explain the higher suicide risk among PSP. Shifts from suicidal ideation, to planning, to attempt may be particularly relevant for PSP due to first-hand duty-related exposures to pain, fear, and death. Moreover, PSP culture stresses the importance of resilient personnel and issues with mental health such as suicidal thoughts and behaviors may be seen as a weakness or professional risk to others; and therefore, PSP may be less likely to report these challenges. The current study was designed to estimate suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts among Canadian PSP, and assesses associations with Emotional Resilience Skills Training (ERST).
What did we find out?
The results indicate suicide-related challenges for PSP, particularly PSP who self-identify as women and females. The results suggest sector-specific differences in suicide attempts, indicating unique sector-specific challenges among PSP. The results evidenced reductions in suicidal ideation and planning directly after ERST; however, attrition impacted analyses at 1-year follow-up.
To cite this article: Nisbet, J., Maguire, K. Q., Teckchandani, T. A., Shields, R. E., Andrews, K. L., Afifi, T. O., Brunet, A., Keane, T. M., Krätzig, G. P., MacPhee, R. S., Martin, R. R., McCarron, M. C. E., Neary, J. P., Sauer-Zavala, S., & Carleton, R. N. (2025). Suicidal Ideation, Planning, and Attempts Changes Among Diverse Canadian Public Safety Personnel After the Emotional Resilience Skills Training. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 55(1), e13168. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.13168
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.13168