PTSS Lab

National Public Service Week is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the people who make a difference every day through their dedication, expertise, and commitment to serving others.

Thank you to all public servants for the important work you do to strengthen our communities, support Canadians, and deliver services that improve lives. Your professionalism, collaboration, and passion are appreciated—not just this week, but every day.

Happy Public Service Week! 🎉

RCMP members frequently experience potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTEs) as a result of service. In a recent study, about half of RCMP participants screened positive for one or more mental health disorders, which is approximately five times that of the general Canadian population.

💪 This study assesses the relationship between physical activity and mental health disorder symptoms of Cadets during the Cadet Training Program. Those who burned more active calories each day reported greater reductions in symptoms of:
▪️ Anxiety
▪️ Depression
▪️ Posttraumatic stress
▪️ Alcohol use disorder

The takeaway? Exercise appears to be an accessible, acceptable, and effective tool for supporting Cadet mental health.

Further research is needed on the potential benefit of exercise for supporting the mental health of serving RCMP, including mitigating symptoms of operational stress and PPTE.

🔗 Read more about the study at the link in our bio.

🌟 Meet the Team Monday 🌟

This week, we’re highlighting Rachel Werrett! Rachel brings a wealth of experience in leadership, program management, and strategic operations. She holds a Master of Business Administration, a Certified Associate in Project Management designation, a Public Relations Certificate, and professional certifications in Leadership, Management, and Research Mobilization.

A strong advocate for lifelong learning and leadership development, Rachel has spent more than 13 years at the University of Regina, leading and managing large-scale training and development initiatives across Canada. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with subject matter experts and strategic partners to advance grassroots leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation, and mental health and wellbeing initiatives.

Our own Dr. Carleton spent the last few days attending the First Responders’ Mental Health Conference in Charlottetown, joining experts and leaders from across the public safety sector who are dedicated to supporting the mental health and well-being of first responders and their families.

The conference provided an excellent opportunity to learn about emerging research, training, clinical interventions, organizational supports, and individual and family-based care. We’re proud to see our team contributing to these important conversations and helping advance evidence-informed approaches to mental health.

📸 Pictured here with Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser, Dr. Nadia Aleem, Dr. Tim Black, and Scott Maxwell.

Thank you to and for organizing such a valuable event.

It’s 👋

Meaghan Jones is the Operations Manager at the PTSS Lab, where she provides organizational leadership and operational oversight in support of the Lab’s research and strategic initiatives. She holds a Master of Human Resource Management from the University of Regina and brings a professional background in higher education. Detail-oriented and collaborative, Meaghan oversees operational coordination, supports strategic priorities, and ensures projects and partnerships move forward efficiently and effectively.

Attending the CPA Conference in Montreal next week? Join members of our team for a symposium presentation:

🧠 Mental Health in Public Safety Personnel: Insights Across Diverse Dimensions and Degrees

Presented by Alexa Danyluk, Autumn Brambell, Paige Sivell, and R. Nicholas Carleton (Discussant)
A PSPNET and PTSS Lab collaboration

📅 Friday, June 5
🕛 12:00–12:55 p.m. EDT
📍 9th Floor – Ville-Marie B
🎓 CPA Convention – Day 2

Learn more: https://convention.cpa.ca/

Our study, The Mental Health of Royal Canadian Mounted Police at the Start of the Cadet Training Program, found that recruits beginning training report lower rates of mental health disorder symptoms than both the general public and serving RCMP members.

The findings challenge long-held assumptions that mental health concerns among serving RCMP members are linked to insufficient mental health screening during recruitment.

This is the first study to assess the mental health of RCMP Cadets at the start of training and compare their mental health to the general population and serving RCMP, providing important insight into the experiences of those who serve.

🔗 Read more about the study at the link in our bio.

This week, we recognize and thank the incredible paramedics who show up every day with compassion and courage. Paramedics play a vital role in keeping our communities safe and supported.

Thank you for your dedication, resilience, and commitment to helping others when they need it most. ❤️🚑

🔗 Link in bio to read the full study

This study examined the practice of daily self-monitoring among Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Cadets in the Cadet Training Program. Participants completed daily self-report questionnaires and undertook assessment for symptoms of several mental health disorders.

Researchers found that Cadets who completed more daily surveys reported fewer symptoms of alcohol use disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The current results indicate that daily mental health monitoring can potentially provide an accessible tool for supporting RCMP mental health throughout the duration of service.

It’s CMHA Mental Health Week. This year’s theme, Come Together, Canada, highlights the powerful role that connection plays in strengthening our mental health.

Take a moment to connect—invite someone for a walk, grab a coffee together, start a conversation, or attend a social event. Connection is something you can build through small, everyday actions.