Solomont School of Nursing, University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Doisy College of Health Sciences, Saint Louis University.
Workplace Health Saf. 2023 Nov;71(11):523-535. doi: 10.1177/21650799231194623. Epub 2023 Sep 13.
Public safety workers (PSWs), including correctional officers (COs), law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical service, and military personnel, are at risk of organizational stress and burnout. Exposure to traumatic events, job hazards, injuries, fatalities, and work-related stressors such as work overload, irregular shift assignments, and lack of administrative support can negatively impact PSWs' mental health. Peer support programs (PSPs) have been cited as an intervention to address the mental health of PSWs.
The purpose of this review is to explore the use, including facilitators and barriers, of PSPs to reduce organizational stress and trauma for PSWs. Implications for COs will be discussed.
A scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O'Malley methodology. A search was conducted for articles published between 1996 and 2021 using six databases. Selected articles described, implemented, or evaluated peer support as an intervention to reduce PSW organizational stress and trauma.
Thirteen articles met eligibility criteria. Organizational support, including policies, practices, and peer leadership training, contributed to the sustainability of PSPs. Confidentiality, trust, and shared lived experience were also essential to PSP. Stigma was identified as the primary barrier to participation. Public safety workers found PSP helpful in normalizing experiences, increasing hope, and decreasing stigma. Peer support programs also serve to bridge the gap in mental health services use.
Peer support programs are a potential mental health intervention to reduce organizational stress and trauma for COs. Awareness of the facilitators and barriers to PSPs is the first step in developing such programs.
公共安全工作者（PSWs），包括狱警（COs）、执法人员、消防员、急救医疗服务人员和军人，面临着组织压力和倦怠的风险。暴露于创伤性事件、工作危险、伤害、死亡以及与工作相关的压力源，如工作负荷过重、不规则的轮班安排和缺乏行政支持，会对 PSWs 的心理健康产生负面影响。同伴支持计划（PSPs）已被认为是一种干预措施，可用于解决 PSWs 的心理健康问题。
本综述的目的是探讨 PSPs 的使用情况，包括促进因素和障碍，以减轻 PSWs 的组织压力和创伤。将讨论 PSPs 对 COs 的影响。
使用 Arksey 和 O'Malley 方法进行了范围综述。使用六个数据库对 1996 年至 2021 年期间发表的文章进行了搜索。选定的文章描述、实施或评估了同伴支持作为减轻 PSW 组织压力和创伤的干预措施。
符合资格标准的文章有 13 篇。组织支持，包括政策、实践和同伴领导培训，有助于 PSPs 的可持续性。保密性、信任和共同的生活经历也是 PSP 的关键要素。耻辱感被确定为参与的主要障碍。PSWs 发现 PSP 有助于使经历正常化、增加希望和减少耻辱感。同伴支持计划还有助于弥合心理健康服务利用方面的差距。
同伴支持计划是一种潜在的心理健康干预措施，可以减轻 COs 的组织压力和创伤。了解 PSP 的促进因素和障碍是制定此类计划的第一步。
