Rapid response to COVID-19: addressing challenges and increasing the mental readiness of public safety personnel

Alexandra Heber; Valerie Testa; Lorraine Smith-MacDonald; Suzette Brémault-Phillips; Lorraine Smith-MacDonald

doi:10.24095/hpcdp.40.11/12.04

Rapid response to COVID-19: addressing challenges and increasing the mental readiness of public safety personnel

Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2020 Dec 9;40(11-12):350-355. doi: 10.24095/hpcdp.40.11/12.04. Epub 2020 Sep 9.

[Article in English, French]

Authors

Alexandra Heber^{1

2}, Valerie Testa^{3

4}, Lorraine Smith-MacDonald^{5

6}, Suzette Brémault-Phillips^{5

6}, Lorraine Smith-MacDonald^{3

7}

Affiliations

¹ Veterans Affairs Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
² Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
³ Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
⁴ Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
⁵ Heroes in Mind, Advocacy and Research Consortium, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
⁶ Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
⁷ Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

No abstract available

Keywords: COVID-19; crisis communication; first responders; leadership; public safety personnel; quarantine; self-care; training.

Plain language summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the essential role of public safety personnel in serving and protecting all Canadians. Public safety personnel were reporting challenges with mental health and well-being before the COVID-19 pandemic; accordingly, the new stressors may mean public safety personnel need additional resources to sustainably help them help us. This article suggests elements of support that may be attainable avenues for supporting the well-being of public safety personnel during the protracted stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sustained self-care may be critical for maintaining the mental health and well-being of public safety personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MeSH terms

COVID-19 / psychology*
Communication
Emergency Responders / education
Emergency Responders / psychology*
Humans
Leadership
Occupational Health*
Occupational Stress / prevention & control*
Occupational Stress / psychology
Quarantine
SARS-CoV-2
Self Care