Exploring Canadian Public Safety Communicator Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviors.
New Solutions · 2025-03-19 · Observational study
Abstract
Public safety communicators are the first line of support for members of the public-facing emergency situations. Consequently, communicators are exposed to potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTE) which are associated with an increase in the prevalence of mental health concerns. For communicators, PPTE exposure and the subsequent negative mental health consequences are exacerbated by low engagement in mental health help-seeking behavior. We surveyed (n = 361) Canadian public safety communicators, asking "What do you think stops people from getting help for their mental health" to identify, contextualize, and provide considerations about contributors to the lack of mental health help-seeking among communicators. Emergent theme analysis reveals 7 factors that circumvent help-seeking: access barriers; self-denial; consequences of seeking help; lack of knowledge; personal feelings; stigma and culture; and support. Discovering hindrances to help-seeking identifies how factors contribute to communications employee wellness and supports the creation of effective interventions and policy implementations to support communicator mental health.
Abstract © the authors or publisher, via PubMed. Reuse and removal
Tags
Dispatchers & call takers · Implementation · Clinician perspective
Related articles
- The impacts of leadership behaviours on the mental well-being of public safety communicators (International Journal of Emergency Services, 2023)
- Supporting Mental Health in EMS Clinicians: A NAEMSP Position Statement and Resource Document. (Prehosp Emerg Care, 2026)
- Why Do Emergency Medical Service Employees (Not) Seek Organizational Help for Mental Health Support?: A Systematic Review. (Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2025)
- Peer Support Programs to Reduce Organizational Stress and Trauma for Public Safety Workers: A Scoping Review. (Workplace Health Saf, 2023)
- Exploring the Physical and Mental Health Challenges Associated with Emergency Service Call-Taking and Dispatching: A Review of the Literature. (Prehosp Disaster Med, 2019)
- Prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Injuries Among Canadian Public Safety Communicators: A Nationwide Comparative Study: Prévalence des blessures de stress post-traumatique chez les communicateurs en sécurité publique canadiens : étude comparative nationale. (Can J Psychiatry, 2026)