The Resilient Minds Program in Fire Departments

McMaster University

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Critical Incident; Mental Illness; Trauma

Treatments: Behavioral: Resilient Minds

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03401684

2017-4390-GRA

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of the study is to assess the impact of a mental health training program in volunteer and career firefighters.

Full description

THE PROBLEM: Firefighters are frequently exposed to distressing events, or critical incidents such as motor vehicle accidents, burnt bodies, failed rescue attempts, threats to one's own life, and completed suicides that can trigger posttraumatic stress reactions. Previous research show that first responders and other public safety personnel report frequent exposure to traumatic events and are at increased risk for mental health illnesses.

THE STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of a mental health training program in volunteer and career firefighters.

THE STUDY SAMPLE: 600 firefighters: 300 Prince Edward Island volunteer or career firefighters, 300 Vancouver career firefighters

INTERVENTION: Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services and the Canadian Mental Health Association-Vancouver Fraser co-developed a new program called, "Resilient Minds-Building the Psychological Health of Fire Fighters." The Resilient Minds training will educate firefighters about the effects of trauma, how to recognize signs of mental health illness and how to access support after critical events. It also trains firefighters to recognize mental health and addictions in co-workers and how to facilitate their help-seeking.

OUTCOMES: The impact of the program will be assessed by pre- and post-program surveys, 3-month, 6-month, 12-month follow-up surveys.

Enrollment: 600 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years and older
• can read, understand, speak English
• career or volunteer firefighters in PEI participating in Resilient Minds program

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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600 participants in 1 patient group

Resilient Minds

Experimental group

Description:

Four comprehensive, skill-building learning modules in the areas of psychological trauma, mental health problems, resiliency and workplace stress.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Resilient Minds