An assessment of mental health challenges and occupational stressors among public safety personnel senior leadership

Abstract

Substantial evidence indicates frontline public safety personnel (PSP), including, but not limited to firefighters, paramedics, and police, report significantly more occupational stressors, mental health challenges, and suicidal behaviours than the general population, largely attributed to their public service. In contrast, there is a paucity of research assessing the mental health of PSP serving in senior leadership roles (i.e., Chiefs, Directors, or Deputy Chiefs). The current study assessed prevalence proportions of occupational stressors, mental health challenges, and suicidal behaviours among paramedics and police serving in senior leadership relative to PSP in other roles within the organization. Participants included Canadian paramedics and police officers (n = 3717). Independent samples t-tests were conducted to assess for differences in mean mental health disorder symptom and occupational stressor scores between professional roles (i.e., PSP senior leadership vs other serving PSP) within PSP sectors. Bootstrapped logistic regression models tested for differences in relative risk for screening positive for mental health disorders and suicidal behaviours, and a series of bootstrapped partial point biserial correlations tested for associations between individual occupational stressors and screening positive for any mental health disorder. Despite differences in occupational demands, responsibilities, individual organizational, and operational stressors between the roles, there were very few statistically significant differences between serving PSP and their senior leadership. PSP senior leadership may face specific barriers to accessing care as a function of their highly visible positions and relatively limited options for peer support. Additional research is needed to understand the contemporary mental health and wellbeing needs of PSP senior leadership.