Fusco Nina, Ricciardelli Rosemary, Jamshidi Laleh, Carleton R Nicholas, Barnim Nigel, Hilton Zoe, Groll Dianne
Integrated Forensic Program, Ontario Provincial Police, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Department of Sociology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada.
Front Psychiatry. 2021 Feb 15;11:493391. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.493391. eCollection 2020.
International estimates suggest that up to one in three public safety personnel experience one or more mental disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Canadian data have been sparse until very recently, and correctional officers and forensic psychiatric staff have rarely been included. Working as a correctional officer is associated with negative health outcomes and increased work-related stress, with several variables affecting reported levels of stress. Healthcare staff also report higher rates of PTSD, especially those who are exposed to aggression in their workplace. In the present study, we compare current symptoms of diverse staff working in correctional occupations. Data were collected from a Canadian national online survey of public safety personnel, including employees of correctional services at the federal level. Correctional officers and wellness services staff were compared for prevalence of mental disorders and suicidal ideation. Correctional officers self-reported statistically significantly more exposure to potentially psychologically traumatic events than wellness services employees. Correctional officers also self-reported higher rates of symptoms of mental disorders, including PTSD, social anxiety, panic disorder, and depression. There were no statistically significant differences in reports of suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempts. Correctional and forensic staff contribute to society by working with justice-involved individuals in correctional institutions. Trauma-related disorders and other mental health problems threaten the well-being of correctional and forensic staff. Mental health likely impacts the ability of correctional and forensic staff to develop a therapeutic or working alliance with persons in custody. Staff well-being must be recognized and addressed to ensure that prisoners and staff receive optimal treatment in prison. Our results add to the limited knowledge about the well-being of staff, particularly wellness staff in prisons, who provide daily treatment and care for prisoners with serious mental disorders. Our work is a step toward identifying avenues for promoting staff well-being.
国际评估表明，多达三分之一的公共安全人员患有一种或多种精神障碍，包括创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）。直到最近，加拿大的数据一直很稀少，惩教官员和法医精神病学工作人员很少被纳入其中。担任惩教官员与负面健康结果和工作压力增加有关，有几个变量会影响报告的压力水平。医护人员也报告了更高的创伤后应激障碍发病率，尤其是那些在工作场所遭受攻击的人员。在本研究中，我们比较了从事惩教职业的不同工作人员的当前症状。数据来自对加拿大公共安全人员的全国在线调查，包括联邦层面惩教服务部门的员工。比较了惩教官员和健康服务人员的精神障碍患病率和自杀意念。惩教官员自我报告称，与健康服务员工相比，他们接触潜在心理创伤事件的情况在统计学上显著更多。惩教官员还自我报告称，包括创伤后应激障碍、社交焦虑、恐慌症和抑郁症在内的精神障碍症状发生率更高。在自杀想法、计划或企图的报告方面没有统计学上的显著差异。惩教和法医工作人员通过在惩教机构与涉及司法案件的人员合作，为社会做出贡献。与创伤相关的障碍和其他心理健康问题威胁着惩教和法医工作人员的福祉。心理健康可能会影响惩教和法医工作人员与被拘留者建立治疗或工作联盟的能力。必须认识到并解决工作人员的福祉问题，以确保囚犯和工作人员在监狱中得到最佳治疗。我们的研究结果增加了关于工作人员福祉的有限知识，特别是监狱中的健康服务工作人员，他们每天为患有严重精神障碍的囚犯提供治疗和护理。我们的工作是朝着确定促进工作人员福祉的途径迈出的一步。
