Érudit's RSS Feed

Un mot de la directrice et rédactrice en cheffe

Julie Maheux, Professeure, Psychologue

Un mot des responsables

Andrée-Ann Deschênes and Annie Gendron

Thérapie cognitive et comportementale sur Internet pour le personnel de la sécurité publique : analyse qualitative de la rétroaction des usagères et des usagers du Québec

Amélie Fournier, Marie-Christine Rivest, Jill Price and Heather Hadjistavropoulos
Public safety personnel (PSP) are regularly exposed to potentially traumatic situations that may negatively affect their mental health. Despite the significant need for care, access to mental health services remains limited due to scheduling constraints, lack of time, stigma, and geographic distance. In this context, Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy represents an accessible and flexible solution that allows PSP to receive support anytime and anywhere. PSPNET is an Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy program designed to support the mental health of PSP across Canada, including in Quebec, by addressing various mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The present study focuses on the “PSP Well-Being Course”, offered with optional support from a psychotherapist. A qualitative analysis of written feedback from 113 users who completed a satisfaction questionnaire was conducted. Results showed that 88 % developed skills they considered useful and that 91 % appreciated various aspects of the course, particularly therapist support. However, 51 % mentioned less appreciated elements, such as the pace being perceived as too fast. Negative effects were reported by 18 % of users, while 12 % suggested improvements to the program. Nuanced gender differences were also observed.

Stress traumatique et événements potentiellement traumatiques auprès d’un échantillon de policiers belges francophones

Audrey Vicenzutto, Emilie Telle and Thierry H. Pham
Policing is one of the primary first-responder professions and repeated exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) constitutes a significant risk factor for mental health problems. Although traumatic stress among police officers has been widely documented in the international literature, few studies have focused on French-speaking Belgian police officers using a protocol independent from police institutions. This study investigated the prevalence and predictors of traumatic stress among French-speaking Belgian police officers, considering the characteristics of PTEs, the formal and informal resources mobilized, and related mental health outcomes such as secondary traumatic stress and burnout The sample included 208 police officers from 16 Local Police Districts and one Federal Judicial Police service (69 % male; Mage = 41,09 years, SD = 9,18). Data collection relied on a structured interview protocol including the Stanford Acute Stress Reaction Questionnaire (SASRQ), the Psychological Trauma Assessment Questionnaire (TraumaQ), and the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL). Results indicate a low prevalence of acute stress (13,9 %) but a higher prevalence of PTSD symptoms (44,2 %), mainly at a mild level. Approximately 15 % of officers reported moderate-to-severe PTSD symptoms, suggesting a greater need for psychological support. Participants also showed low levels of secondary traumatic stress but moderate levels of burnout. Officers relied more frequently on informal support resources (colleagues and relatives) than on professional psychological services. These findings are consistent with trends reported in the international literature and highlight the importance of strengthening psychological support interventions within the Belgian police context.

Différences de genre et santé mentale en milieu policier : une revue de la littérature

Andréanne Angehrn and Alexandra Bisson Desrochers
Police officers are regularly exposed to potentially traumatic events. As a result, they are at greater risk of developing various mental disorders. The presence of women is steadily increasing across Canadian police organizations, yet they remain a minority. Although the prevalence of certain mental disorders varies by gender in the general population, few studies have focused on the topic within policing. As such, it is crucial to gain a thorough understanding of gender differences in the context of police mental health. This narrative review aims to present the empirical knowledge regarding gender differences in police mental health. In short, the scientific literature suggests that men and women present distinct clinical profiles. For example, women police officers are more at risk of developing anxiety and depressive disorders. Men police officers, on the other hand, are more likely to develop substance use disorders. The scientific literature also suggests mixed results regarding post-traumatic stress disorder. Indeed, women police officers appear to make greater use of positive coping strategies and rely more heavily on their social support networks, which prove to be important protective factors. The current review offers a more in depth and nuanced understanding of the differences and similarities between men and women working in policing, equipping clinicians to better identify certain difficulties and adapt their clinical interventions to support the well-being of these workers.

Portrait de la santé mentale des paramédics québécois en contexte post-pandémie

Sarah Bourget, Isabelle Cindy Légaré and Charles Côté
The profession of emergency medical technician (hereinafter referred to as paramedic) is highly demanding psychologically (Nirel et al., 2008; Sterud et al., 2006), which has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic (Patel et al., 2023). The objective of this article is to describe an initial portrait of the mental health of Quebec paramedics in a post-pandemic context using validated questionnaires on burnout, depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. The results demonstrate that each of the elements assessed is present among paramedics, and in a higher proportion compared to the general population.

« Et peu importe à quel point tu veux t’en éloigner, tu te retrouves quand même affecté » : santé mentale et travail des policiers dans une municipalité du sud du Brésil

Karine Vanessa Perez, Ana Laura Brum and Carmem Regina Giongo
Police work is characterized by intense workloads and experiences of suffering, generating physical and mental fatigue. Against this backdrop, the aim of this study was to analyze the impact of work on the mental health of police officers in a municipality in the southern region of Brazil, focusing on the identification of strategies used on a daily basis to cope with the adversities inherent in the profession. To this end, a qualitative approach was chosen, based on an adaptation of the psychodynamics of work. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with ten police officers, all of whom had been with the institution for at least six months. The results showed that, despite adversities, the participants reported experiences of pleasure at work, mainly thanks to the interpersonal relationships established with their colleagues. However, suffering was present, linked to work overload and lack of recognition, justifying the physical and mental fatigue observed. Another finding was that police activity extends to all aspects of professionals’ lives, requiring a constant state of alert, which intensifies psychological suffering. These results underline the urgent need for public policies aimed at promoting psychological health, particularly in the context of public safety.

La mentalisation chez les policiers : un levier pour la santé mentale et la qualité des pratiques

Julie Maheux, Marie-Ève Cadieux, Annie Gendron and Andrée-Ann Deschênes
Police officers work in a demanding environment, frequently engaging with populations that may be confronting or vulnerable. The need to make rapid decisions under pressure exposes them to significant consequences, not only for their own health and safety but also that of the citizens they serve. While these professional challenges are inherent to their work, they can lead to a decline in psychological well-being and negatively impact the quality of their practices. To address these challenges, strong interpersonal and emotional skills are essential for protecting themselves from occupational risks and for making appropriate decisions and interventions tailored to each situation. Mentalization, which refers to the ability to detect, represent, and interpret one’s own mental states underlying one’s behaviors, as well as the mental states of others, is a particularly important skill in this context. In policing, mentalization may help officers maintain appropriate distance during highly emotional situations while remaining empathetic. This balance can help prevent impulsive reactions and ultimately improve the effectiveness of interventions. This article offers a theoretical and conceptual perspective on the role of mentalization in policing. It proposes an exploratory ecosystemic model that frames this ability both as a protective factor for officers’ psychological health and as a lever for improving their interventions with vulnerable populations. This model also aims to guide police organizations and decision-making bodies toward greater recognition of this skill in training and professional practices.

Inventaire des pratiques et des besoins des policiers en matière de soutien et d’intervention post-trauma

Andrée-Ann Deschênes, Annie Gendron, Marie-France Marin, Clémence Emeriau-Farges and Francis Lapointe
Due to the nature of their work, police officers are regularly exposed to potentially traumatic events, which can lead to significant psychological consequences, including post-traumatic stress disorder. These issues generate considerable personal and organizational costs, such as absenteeism, presenteeism, and staff turnover. It is therefore essential to study the prevention and promotion of psychological health in this context and to adapt support practices to officers’ needs. This study aims to document existing organizational practices and the needs of police officers in Quebec regarding psychological support measures offered after exposure to a potentially traumatic work-related event. To achieve this objective, a qualitative methodology was adopted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 46 officers from 12 Quebec police organizations, continuing until data saturation was reached. All participants reported experiencing at least one potentially traumatic event in the course of their duties. Thematic analysis identified existing practices across the three levels of prevention (primary, secondary, and tertiary), although these practices were incomplete and inconsistent among organizations. The results also revealed five categories of needs to consider in post-trauma psychological support: Organization, managers, union representatives, peers, and psychosocial professionals. This study contributes to advancing knowledge on current organizational practices and the needs of police officers following exposure to a potentially traumatic event.

Le rôle critique de la fidélité interjuge dans l’analyse des données observationnelles en psychologie

William Trottier-Dumont, Simon Paradis, Ève-Line Bussières and Chantal Cyr
Les méthodes observationnelles, à partir desquelles des observateurs externes évaluent des comportements, sont des plus importantes pour assurer la fiabilité des données d’une étude, la validité des résultats obtenus, leur réplicabilité, et l’avancement des connaissances d’un domaine. Cependant, l’observation de comportements est sensible à la subjectivité des observateurs. Pour minimiser l’influence des biais personnels, il est essentiel d’évaluer la fidélité interjuge et d’atteindre un niveau de fidélité élevée, c’est-à-dire un accord satisfaisant entre plusieurs observateurs. L’objectif du présent article est de sensibiliser le lecteur aux pratiques rigoureuses permettant d’évaluer et faciliter la fidélité interjuge. Notamment, le kappa de Cohen sera utilisé pour les variables nominales et la corrélation intra-classe (ICC) le sera pour les variables continues. D’autres indices statistiques, comme l’interprétation adéquate des intervalles de confiance pour les variables continues, sont également présentés. Enfin, la formation des évaluateurs à l’outil d’observation, de même que le processus mis en place pour obtenir et calculer l’interjuge sont décrits comme des facilitateurs d’une fidélité interjuge élevée.