Introduction: Public safety personnel (PSP) experience operational stress injuries (OSIs), which can put them at increased risk of experiencing mental health and functional challenges. Such challenges can result in PSP needing to take time away from the workplace. An unsuccessful workplace reintegration process may contribute to further personal challenges for PSP and their families as well as staffing shortages that adversely affect PSP organizations. The Canadian Workplace Reintegration Program (RP) has seen a global scale and spread in recent years. However, there remains a lack of evidence-based literature on this topic and the RP specifically. The current qualitative study was designed to explore the perspectives of PSP who had engaged in a Workplace RP due to experiencing a potentially psychologically injurious event or OSI. Methods: A qualitative thematic analysis analyzed interview data from 26 PSP who completed the RP. The researchers identified five themes: (1) the impact of stigma on service engagement; (2) the importance of short-term critical incident (STCI) program; (3) strengths of RP; (4) barriers and areas of improvement for the RP; and (5) support outside the RP. Discussion: Preliminary results were favorable, but further research is needed to address the effectiveness, efficacy, and utility of the RP. Conclusion: By addressing workplace reintegration through innovation and research, future initiatives and RP iterations can provide the best possible service and support to PSP and their communities.

Introduction: Following the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health clinicians rapidly shifted service delivery from in-person to digital. This pivot was instrumental in maintaining continuity of care and meeting increased mental health service demands. Many mental health services have continued to be offered via digital delivery. The long-term implications of delivering services via digital media remain unclear and need to be addressed. Objectives: This study aimed to identify current micro (i.e., clinician–patient interactions), meso (i.e., clinician–clinic manager interactions), and macro (i.e., government–policy maker interactions) level issues surrounding the use of digital mental health interventions (DMHI). Such integrated assessments are important for optimizing services to improve treatment outcomes and client satisfaction. Methods: Participants were recruited between January 2022 and April 2023. Quantitative data were collected using a survey informed by the Hexagon Tool. Qualitative data were collected from online semi-structured interviews and focus groups and analyzed using rapid thematic analysis. Results: Survey data were collected from 11 client and 11 clinician participants. Twenty-six community partner participants were interviewed for this study. Client and clinician participants expressed satisfaction with the implementation of DMHI. Community partner participants generally agreed, reporting that such services will play an integral role in mental healthcare moving forward. Community partners shared that certain issues, such as uncertainty surrounding policies and regulations related to digital delivery, must be addressed in the future. Conclusions: Participants in this study supported the use of DMHI despite difficulties implementing these programs, asserting that such services are not a temporary fix but a pivotal cornerstone in the future of mental healthcare service delivery.

The digital delivery of mental health services became increasingly common following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is still much to learn regarding tailoring interventions for trauma-affected populations (military members, Veterans, public safety personnel). Through the current pilot study, we explored the perceptions of digitally delivered psychotherapies utilized for trauma-affected populations, as reported by Canadian military members, Veterans, and public safety personnel who completed such interventions. Quantitative data were collected from 11 Canadian clients (military members, Veterans, and public safety personnel with posttraumatic stress injury). Survey questions were based on the Alberta Quality Matrix of Health and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model. As a follow-up, clients were invited to partake in a semi-structured interview to further explore their perspectives on digitally delivered trauma-focused and adjunct therapies. Four clients participated in an interview. The client participants reported that digitally delivered trauma and adjunct therapies offered similar treatment effectiveness to in-person delivery while also improving treatment access. The participants indicated several unique advantages of digital delivery, including the increased accessibility of treatment, cost-effectiveness, and more efficient use of resources, although the small sample size limits the generalizability of our findings. Further research with a larger, more diverse population is required to corroborate our results and identify other avenues in which psychotherapies utilized for trauma-affected populations can be engaged with and improved upon.

Many clinical sites shifted towards digital delivery of mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is still much to learn regarding tailoring digitally delivered interventions for trauma-affected populations. The current study examined the perceptions of Canadian mental health clinicians who provided digitally delivered psychotherapies utilized for trauma-affected populations. Specifically, we explored the shift to digital health use, what changed with this rapid shift, what needs, problems, and solutions arose, and important future considerations associated with delivering trauma-focused and adjunct treatments digitally. Survey data were collected from 12 Canadian mental health clinician participants. Surveys were adapted from the Alberta Quality Matrix of Health and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model. As a follow-up, the participants were invited to participate in either a semi-structured qualitative interview or focus group to further explore their perspectives on digitally delivered trauma-focused and adjunct therapies. Twenty-four clinician participants partook in an interview or focus group. The participants in this study supported the use of digitally delivered psychotherapies utilized for trauma-affected populations, sharing that these interventions appeared to offer similar quality of care to in-person delivery. Further research is required to address clinicians’ concerns with digital delivery (e.g., patient safety) and identify other avenues in which digitally delivered psychotherapies utilized for trauma-affected populations can be engaged with and improved upon.

Background: Nurses are engaged in an unpredictable and dynamic work environment where they are exposed to events that may cause or contribute to physical and/or psychological injuries. Operational stress injury (OSI) may lead to an extended time away from work or nurses leaving the profession altogether. A deliberate focus on the workplace reintegration phase of the mental health recovery process may lead to the increased retention of nurses in their profession. Prior to the creation and implementation of potential solutions to address workplace reintegration, it is imperative to explore the experiences and perceptions of nurses affected by OSI. This qualitative study aims to investigate the experiences and perceptions of nurses (N = 7) employed within a Canadian provincial healthcare system who have attempted workplace reintegration after being off of work with an OSI. Methods: Nurses were recruited via social media, unit emails, and word of mouth. Data were collected through recorded semi-structured interviews conducted over videoconferencing. Once transcribed, the data were thematically analyzed using an inductive approach. Results: The resulting themes included (1) heroes to zeros, (2) changing the status quo, (3) connection is key, and (4) post-traumatic growth: advocacy and altruism. Study participants indicated both that nursing culture and a cumulation of events contributed to a need for a leave of absence from work and that a formalized process was desired by nurses to assist in returning to work. Conclusions: The development, implementation, and exploration of innovative policies, procedures, and initiatives to bridge the gap from clinical interventions to workplace reintegration are needed for nurses experiencing OSI. Further research is also needed regarding mental health impacts and appropriate resources to support nurses in their workplace reintegration process after experiencing psychological and/or physical injury.