Workplace Reintegration Facilitator Training Program for Mental Health Literacy and Workplace Attitudes of Public Safety Personnel: Pre-Post Pilot Cohort Study

Abstract

Background Public safety personnel (PSP) impacted by operational stress injuries can find themselves needing both time off work and support reintegrating back into the workforce. Work reintegration programs have been introduced in PSP organizations to support those who aim to return to work. One such peer-led workplace reintegration program (RP) was created in 2009 by members of the Edmonton Police Service (EPS). The primary goal of the EPSRP is to assist PSP in returning to work as soon as possible following a critical incident, illness, or injury while diminishing the potential for long-term psychological injury. The EPSRP is delivered by peers through 3 interrelated components: (1) the Reintegration Program Facilitator Training (RPFT) Program; (2) a short-term Critical Incident RP; and (3) a long-term RP. There is a dire need for research that incorporates strong study designs to the determine long-term effectiveness of the program on increasing workplace reintegration, improving mental health knowledge, and creating culture change within PSP organizations. Simultaneously, the efficacy, effectiveness, and fidelity of the RPFT in providing the tools, mental health knowledge, and skills the RP peer facilitators will need for the RP must be evaluated. Objective The purpose of this quasi-experimental pre-post pilot cohort study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the EPSRPFT course on influencing mental health knowledge and attitudes of RPFT attendees who will be future RP peer facilitators. Methods This pre-post cohort study collected data via 2 questionnaires from RPFT participants (N=60) which included the Mental Health Knowledge Survey (MAKS) and the Open Minds Survey of Workplace Attitudes (OMSWA). Descriptive, parametric (sample t tests), and nonparametric (Wilcoxon signed rank tests) statistics were used to compare the pre- and post-RPFT results and to analyze results by gender and profession. Results Statistically significant changes were observed in pre-post questionnaire scores in the domains of mental health attitudes and knowledge. Conclusions Although results are explorative, the RPFT may facilitate positive changes in workplace mental health attitudes and knowledge among PSP. It is hoped these findings will contribute to a broader evidence base that can inform changes to the program, practices, and policies, and inform decision-making regarding the EPSRP.

Stakeholder experiences of a public safety personnel work reintegration program

“…To date, however, information regarding the potential success of the program has been largely anecdotal. Although there has been preliminary research regarding the effect of the RP Facilitator Training Program developed by EPS on the mental health knowledge, attitudes (Jones et al, 2022), and perspectives of attendees (Jones et al, 2021), the RP itself has not been formally studied.…”

“…■ High-quality RP effectiveness studies that incorporate stronger study designs, rigour, validity, and reliability are needed (Beshai & Carleton, 2016). A determination of long-term effects of the RP is also required, together with an assessment of potential risk of harm to the participants and facilitators (Jones et al, 2022). ■ As the goal of the RP is to enhance workers' effective return to work, future research should incorporate constructs and conditions which may correlate with success in sustained return to work such as measures of absenteeism, presenteeism, organizational injustice, work function and performance, perceived stigma, as well as mental health knowledge and attitudes (Sutton & Polaschek, 2022).…”

“…■ If research is favourable, use of effective implementation science approaches would best facilitate sustainable spread and scale of the RP, enabling more PSP and civilian professions to receive support in their return to work (Jones et al, 2022).…”

A Systematic Analysis of Biological, Sociodemographic, Psychosocial, and Lifestyle Factors Contributing to Work Ability Across the Working Life Span: Cross-sectional Study

“…However, as workers age, their physical and mental abilities decline, and work-related illnesses increase, which may lead to occupational accidents, frequent or prolonged absenteeism, involuntary withdrawal from active working, or early retirement [4][5][6][7][8]. Therefore, it is crucial to develop different methods that optimally match individually available capabilities with work-related demands to prevent such scenarios and improve the employability of older workers [9][10][11].…”

How Do We Keep our Heads above Water? An Embedded Mixed-Methods Study Exploring Implementation of a Workplace Reintegration Program for Nurses Affected by Operational Stress Injury

“…To date, information regarding the potential success of the program has been largely anecdotal. There has been only preliminary research regarding the effect of the RP Facilitator Training Program developed by EPS on the mental health knowledge, attitudes [10], and perspectives of attendees and stakeholders [11,12].…”