Assessing Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) training among correctional workers in Canada

Abstract Background Mental health frameworks, best practices, and the well-being of public safety personnel in Canada are topics of increasing interest to both researchers and organizations. To protect and improve worker mental health, different training programs have been implemented to serve this...

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Main Authors: Matthew S. Johnston, Rosemary Ricciardelli, Maryam Ghodrati, Stephen Czarnuch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-01-01
Series:Health & Justice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-023-00206-z
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author Matthew S. Johnston
Rosemary Ricciardelli
Maryam Ghodrati
Stephen Czarnuch
author_facet Matthew S. Johnston
Rosemary Ricciardelli
Maryam Ghodrati
Stephen Czarnuch
author_sort Matthew S. Johnston
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Mental health frameworks, best practices, and the well-being of public safety personnel in Canada are topics of increasing interest to both researchers and organizations. To protect and improve worker mental health, different training programs have been implemented to serve this population. The Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) training regimen is one such program specialized to build cultural awareness of mental health, reduce stigma, and mitigate the cumulative impacts of exposures to potentially psychologically traumatic events among public safety personnel. However, limited research has been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of R2MR, especially among correctional workers. Methods The current study analyzed 307 open-ended survey responses to four (4) questions about R2MR garnered from 124 Canadian provincial and territorial correctional workers between 2018–2020 to reveal their understandings and perceptions of R2MR training, and to identify what learned skills they found challenging or easy to implement. Results The results suggest that R2MR training plays a significant role in decreasing stigma and increasing mental health awareness. Across jurisdictions, R2MR creates a supportive space for open dialogue around mental health meant to shift cultural and individual barriers that often hinder treatment-seeking. Some respondents also indicated that R2MR was a starting point for intervention. Conclusions Further research is necessary to understand how R2MR and other programs could support the mental health and well-being of correctional workers.
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spelling doaj.art-02bb36ad25df4d5e95ea4dca87126af42023-01-29T12:06:50ZengBMCHealth & Justice2194-78992023-01-0111111010.1186/s40352-023-00206-zAssessing Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) training among correctional workers in CanadaMatthew S. Johnston0Rosemary Ricciardelli1Maryam Ghodrati2Stephen Czarnuch3Fisheries and Marine Institute, Memorial University of NewfoundlandFisheries and Marine Institute, Memorial University of NewfoundlandFisheries and Marine Institute, Memorial University of NewfoundlandFisheries and Marine Institute, Memorial University of NewfoundlandAbstract Background Mental health frameworks, best practices, and the well-being of public safety personnel in Canada are topics of increasing interest to both researchers and organizations. To protect and improve worker mental health, different training programs have been implemented to serve this population. The Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) training regimen is one such program specialized to build cultural awareness of mental health, reduce stigma, and mitigate the cumulative impacts of exposures to potentially psychologically traumatic events among public safety personnel. However, limited research has been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of R2MR, especially among correctional workers. Methods The current study analyzed 307 open-ended survey responses to four (4) questions about R2MR garnered from 124 Canadian provincial and territorial correctional workers between 2018–2020 to reveal their understandings and perceptions of R2MR training, and to identify what learned skills they found challenging or easy to implement. Results The results suggest that R2MR training plays a significant role in decreasing stigma and increasing mental health awareness. Across jurisdictions, R2MR creates a supportive space for open dialogue around mental health meant to shift cultural and individual barriers that often hinder treatment-seeking. Some respondents also indicated that R2MR was a starting point for intervention. Conclusions Further research is necessary to understand how R2MR and other programs could support the mental health and well-being of correctional workers.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-023-00206-zRoad to Mental Readiness (R2MR)StigmaMental HealthCorrectional WorkersPublic Safety Personnel
spellingShingle Matthew S. Johnston
Rosemary Ricciardelli
Maryam Ghodrati
Stephen Czarnuch
Assessing Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) training among correctional workers in Canada
Health & Justice
Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR)
Stigma
Mental Health
Correctional Workers
Public Safety Personnel
title Assessing Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) training among correctional workers in Canada
title_full Assessing Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) training among correctional workers in Canada
title_fullStr Assessing Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) training among correctional workers in Canada
title_full_unstemmed Assessing Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) training among correctional workers in Canada
title_short Assessing Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) training among correctional workers in Canada
title_sort assessing road to mental readiness r2mr training among correctional workers in canada
topic Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR)
Stigma
Mental Health
Correctional Workers
Public Safety Personnel
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-023-00206-z
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