Purpose: The nature and cumulative occupational demands imposed on families of public safety personnel (PSP) are substantial, in many cases non-negotiable, and distinct from the general population accentuating risk factors for family well-being. Despite this reality, the contributions of PSP families are not well understood, and a conceptual framework is needed. The aim of this paper is to summarize contextual factors (lifestyle dimensions) that shape the lives of PSP families; factors supported in the existing, albeit limited, body of research. Methods: Grounded in the interpretive/constructivist paradigm, a synthesis was central to understanding the lived experiences of PSP families. An interdisciplinary research team engaged in an iterative process of framework analysis to capture the variability and complexity of PSP family life and distilled the overarching lifestyle dimensions. Results: Three lifestyle dimensions—logistics, risks, and identities—emerged from contextual factors and represent distinct aspects of PSP family life. PSP families play a crucial role in that their capacity to accommodate the lifestyle dimensions (i.e., logistics, risks, and identities), without which the PSP could not meet the demands of the profession. Conclusion: Promoting awareness of these dimensions and their consequent demands underscores the cumulative demands that put PSP families at risk. Responses from governments, public safety organizations, and communities are required to help PSP families manage non-negotiable elements of the public safety occupation that spill over into family life over which they have no control.

Background: Spouses and significant others (SSOs) of public safety personnel (PSP) are affected by the risks and requirements of these occupations. Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) provides a convenient and accessible treatment format that can be tailored to the needs of SSOs of PSP. Objective: This study aimed to assess the initial use and client perceptions (eg, likes, helpfulness, and areas for improvement) of a self-guided, transdiagnostic ICBT course designed for Canadian SSOs of PSP and identify opportunities to further tailor ICBT for this group. Methods: SSOs were invited to complete a 5-lesson, self-guided, transdiagnostic ICBT course. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the demographic and clinical characteristics of participants. Content analysis was used to analyze the data from open-ended survey responses and interviews to understand their experiences with ICBT. Results: Clients (N=118) endorsed various mental health concerns (eg, depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and relationship concerns) with a range of severity levels. Most clients identified as White (110/116, 94.8%) and women (108/116, 91.5%), with a mean age of 42.03 (SD 9.36) years. Of the 26 clients who were interviewed, 89% (23/26) reported believing that ICBT is helpful and 92% (24/26) reported finding at least 1 skill helpful. Clients provided suggestions for course improvements. On the basis of this feedback and quantitative data, changes were made to areas such as the delivery of materials, content, case stories, and timelines. Overall, the results indicated that many SSOs of PSP had positive perceptions of ICBT tailored to their needs and found several aspects of the course helpful, supporting the continued delivery of tailored ICBT to this population. However, there remains a need for continued promotion of the course and outreach to diverse groups of SSOs of PSP. Conclusions: Findings from this formative evaluation provide insight into the unique experiences and needs of SSOs of PSP and provide preliminary evidence for the use of tailored ICBT to support the mental health of this group in Canada.

This narrative review of reviews establishes crucial groundwork for future research on the family impact of sleep health issues among public safety personnel (PSP), including but not limited to firefighters, police, and paramedics. The review aimed to explore how the unique occupational demands and sleep health challenges faced by public safety personnel can reverberate through their family systems. A systematic search was conducted across Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, MEDLINE, Academic Search Complete, PsycINFO, and CINAHL in June 2024 to identify and synthesize relevant research. Findings were analyzed using the family impact framework. Results indicate that PSP experience high rates of sleep disturbances linked to shift work, trauma exposure, and work stress, with far-reaching consequences. Applying a family-centred lens highlighted the bidirectional relationship between sleep health and family well-being. Addressing a major gap in the literature, this review outlines a comprehensive research agenda focused on the family context to guide future studies. By establishing this agenda, the review provides a strong foundation for developing tailored interventions and policies that support PSP and their families.

Lyme disease patient organizations have formed to challenge a health system that is failing Canadians who suffer from a disease that is ambiguous in its symptomology and trajectory. The framework of an embodied health movement illustrates the importance of the illness experience in mobilizing patients to oppose a system that is reliant on restrictive guidelines that deny testing and treatment and to seek alliances with researchers, physicians, and politicians who are sympathetic to their goals. The strategies of Lyme disease patient organizations, the importance of experiential knowledge, and the roles of both adversaries and allies are examined through a “small wins” approach to gauge successes and setbacks within a Canadian context.

Public Safety Personnel (PSP) face numerous potentially psychologically traumatic events in the line of duty. Resilience courses intended to mitigate the effects of operational stress injuries in this population—many of which are available online—have proliferated in recent years. An environmental scan yielded 15 courses that met all inclusion criteria. Courses were required to be offered for $250 or less and had to be created and/or hosted in Canada. Courses focused on individual (n = 7), family (n = 2), or workplace (n = 6) resilience. A qualitative content analysis was conducted. Data were extracted from public-facing documents and course materials, and supplemented by additional text materials and contacting program staff for clarification, when necessary. Coding and synthesis were completed in iterative team meetings. Courses were compared across numerous dimensions, including focus, intended audience, cost, enrollment details, length, instructional style, customization for PSP, and completion requirements. Nearly half of the courses (46.7%) were available free of charge. Outcome data were available for four of the courses, with most studies showing initial gains in resilience, skills, knowledge, attitudes, intentions, and/or behaviors, but with evidence of skill decay over time. The potential benefit of short refresher sessions warrants further investigation.

Retirement marks a pivotal transition not only for individuals but also for their families. Existing research has examined relational aspects of retirement but primarily focuses on how family members influence the retiree’s well-being rather than on the impact of this transition on other family members and the broader family system. To address this imbalance, the present review synthesizes evidence drawing upon Family Life Course Theory and Family Systems Theory. Using a well-established five-stage framework, we conducted extensive database searches and refined our guiding research question. Of the 4034 studies identified, 61 were selected for detailed analysis. Data extraction and thematic coding, supported by MAXQDA 24 software, revealed eight interconnected themes: marital quality and conflict; dyadic adjustments between partners; financial impacts and concerns; time use and leisure; redistribution of domestic roles; health outcomes; emotional and psychological effects on the family unit; and intergenerational dynamics. Across these domains, gender consistently emerged as a central, asymmetrical determinant of adaptation. Ultimately, this review demonstrates that retirement constitutes a relational turning point within families and calls for future research to adopt inclusive, longitudinal designs, and for practitioners and policymakers to develop family-centred interventions that recognize the systemic impact of retirement.