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Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Examining mental health knowledge, stigma, and service use intentions among Royal Canadian Mounted Police cadets
Frontiers in Psychology, Vol.14, pp.1-9
2023
PMID: 37205089
Abstract
Background: Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers experience an elevated risk for mental health disorders due to inherent work-related exposures to potentially psychologically traumatic events and occupational stressors. RCMP officers also report high levels of stigma and low levels of intentions to seek mental health services. In contrast, very little is known about the levels of mental health knowledge and stigma of RCMP cadets starting the Cadet Training Program (CTP). The current study was designed to: (1) obtain baseline levels of mental health knowledge, stigma against peers in the workplace, and service use intentions in RCMP cadets; (2) determine the relationship among mental health knowledge, stigma against peers in the workplace, and service use intentions among RCMP cadets; (3) examine differences across sociodemographic characteristics; and (4) compare cadets to a sample of previously surveyed serving RCMP.
Methods: Participants were RCMP cadets (n = 772) starting the 26-week CTP. Cadets completed questionnaires assessing mental health knowledge, stigma against coworkers with mental health challenges, and mental health service use intentions.
Results: RCMP cadets reported statistically significantly lower levels of mental health knowledge (d = 0.233) and stigma (d = 0.127), and higher service use intentions (d = 0.148) than serving RCMP (all ps < 0.001). Female cadets reported statistically significantly higher scores on mental health knowledge and service use and lower scores on stigma compared to male cadets. Mental health knowledge and service use intentions were statistically significantly positively associated. For the total sample, stigma was inversely statistically significantly associated with mental health knowledge and service use intentions.
Conclusion: The current results indicate that higher levels of mental health knowledge were associated with lower stigma and higher intention to use professional mental health services. Differences between cadets and serving RCMP highlight the need for regular ongoing training starting from the CTP, designed to reduce stigma and increase mental health knowledge. Differences between male and female cadets suggest differential barriers to help-seeking behaviors. The current results provide a baseline to monitor cadet mental health knowledge and service use intentions and stigma as they progress throughout their careers.
Details
- Title
- Examining mental health knowledge, stigma, and service use intentions among Royal Canadian Mounted Police cadets
- Authors
- Katie L. Andrews (Corresponding Author) - University of ReginaLaleh Jamshidi - University of ReginaRobyn E. Shields - University of ReginaTaylor A. Teckchandani - University of ReginaTracie O. Afifi - University of ManitobaAmber J. Fletcher - University of ReginaShannon Sauer-Zavala - University of KentuckyAlain Brunet - McGill UniversityGregory P. Kratzig - University of ReginaR. Nicholas Carleton - University of Regina
- Publication details
- Frontiers in Psychology, Vol.14, pp.1-9
- Publisher
- Frontiers Research Foundation
- Date published
- 2023
- DOI
- 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1123361
- ISSN
- 1664-1078
- PMID
- 37205089
- Copyright note
- © 2023 Andrews, Jamshidi, Shields, Teckchandani, Afifi, Fletcher, Sauer-Zavala, Brunet, Krätzig and Carleton. This is an openaccess article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
- Data Availability
- The datasets presented in this article are not readily available due to the sensitive nature of the content and to protect anonymity of participants. Requests to access the datasets should be directed to katie.andrews@uregina.ca.
- Grant note
- The RCMP Study is supported by the RCMP, the Government of Canada, and the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
- Organisation Unit
- Thompson Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991105742902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Psychology, Multidisciplinary
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