Mental health screening amongst police officers: factors associated with under-reporting of symptoms
Abstract Background Mental health screening in the workplace aims to identify employees who are becoming symptomatic, in order to provide timely support and evidence-based interventions to those affected. Given the stigma associated with mental illness, accurate disclosure of mental health symptoms...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03125-1 |
| _version_ | 1818676381724180480 |
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| author | Ruth E. Marshall Josie Milligan-Saville Katherine Petrie Richard A. Bryant Philip B. Mitchell Samuel B. Harvey |
| author_facet | Ruth E. Marshall Josie Milligan-Saville Katherine Petrie Richard A. Bryant Philip B. Mitchell Samuel B. Harvey |
| author_sort | Ruth E. Marshall |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Mental health screening in the workplace aims to identify employees who are becoming symptomatic, in order to provide timely support and evidence-based interventions to those affected. Given the stigma associated with mental illness, accurate disclosure of mental health symptoms cannot be assumed. The present study sought to investigate factors associated with the accurate reporting of mental health symptoms amongst police officers. Methods A total of 90 serving police officers completed identical mental health screening surveys, one administered by the employer and the other anonymously by an independent organisation. Responses were then linked to compare differences in the number and severity of mental health symptoms reported on each questionnaire. Results Comparisons of matched self-report scores indicated that employees under-reported symptoms of mental health disorders when completing screening administered by their employer, with only 76.3% of symptoms declared. Under-reporting occurred regardless of gender and symptom type. Less senior staff (p = 0.05) and those with the most severe post-traumatic stress disorder and common mental disorder symptoms (p = 0.008) were significantly more likely to under-report symptoms. Conclusions Employer-administered mental health screening is not able to accurately capture all mental health symptoms amongst first responders. The fact that the severity of symptoms predicted the level of under-reporting means that simple changes to cut-off values cannot correct this problem. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T08:42:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e4ffd8e7f4344adaa3dd5bed3bd9812b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T08:42:35Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-e4ffd8e7f4344adaa3dd5bed3bd9812b2022-12-21T21:56:17ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2021-03-012111810.1186/s12888-021-03125-1Mental health screening amongst police officers: factors associated with under-reporting of symptomsRuth E. Marshall0Josie Milligan-Saville1Katherine Petrie2Richard A. Bryant3Philip B. Mitchell4Samuel B. Harvey5School of Psychiatry, University of New South WalesSchool of Psychiatry, University of New South WalesSchool of Psychiatry, University of New South WalesBlack Dog Institute, University of New South WalesSchool of Psychiatry, University of New South WalesBlack Dog Institute, University of New South WalesAbstract Background Mental health screening in the workplace aims to identify employees who are becoming symptomatic, in order to provide timely support and evidence-based interventions to those affected. Given the stigma associated with mental illness, accurate disclosure of mental health symptoms cannot be assumed. The present study sought to investigate factors associated with the accurate reporting of mental health symptoms amongst police officers. Methods A total of 90 serving police officers completed identical mental health screening surveys, one administered by the employer and the other anonymously by an independent organisation. Responses were then linked to compare differences in the number and severity of mental health symptoms reported on each questionnaire. Results Comparisons of matched self-report scores indicated that employees under-reported symptoms of mental health disorders when completing screening administered by their employer, with only 76.3% of symptoms declared. Under-reporting occurred regardless of gender and symptom type. Less senior staff (p = 0.05) and those with the most severe post-traumatic stress disorder and common mental disorder symptoms (p = 0.008) were significantly more likely to under-report symptoms. Conclusions Employer-administered mental health screening is not able to accurately capture all mental health symptoms amongst first responders. The fact that the severity of symptoms predicted the level of under-reporting means that simple changes to cut-off values cannot correct this problem.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03125-1Mental healthPsychiatryPsychologyPost-traumatic stress disorderHealth screeningScreening |
| spellingShingle | Ruth E. Marshall Josie Milligan-Saville Katherine Petrie Richard A. Bryant Philip B. Mitchell Samuel B. Harvey Mental health screening amongst police officers: factors associated with under-reporting of symptoms BMC Psychiatry Mental health Psychiatry Psychology Post-traumatic stress disorder Health screening Screening |
| title | Mental health screening amongst police officers: factors associated with under-reporting of symptoms |
| title_full | Mental health screening amongst police officers: factors associated with under-reporting of symptoms |
| title_fullStr | Mental health screening amongst police officers: factors associated with under-reporting of symptoms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mental health screening amongst police officers: factors associated with under-reporting of symptoms |
| title_short | Mental health screening amongst police officers: factors associated with under-reporting of symptoms |
| title_sort | mental health screening amongst police officers factors associated with under reporting of symptoms |
| topic | Mental health Psychiatry Psychology Post-traumatic stress disorder Health screening Screening |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03125-1 |
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