Strategies for Public Safety Organizations

Evidence

Research on the outcomes of moral injury and burnout among public safety workers and learners is limited. However, burnout and moral injury have been associated with physical and mental harms. Substance use disorders and mental health challenges are more prevalent in this population, contributing to their overall health challenges and placing them at an increased risk of chronic diseases.¹ A study of Canadian public safety workers found that they frequently grapple with mental health symptoms including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)² as well as suicidal ideation.³ 

Public safety workers may also encounter difficulties in their interpersonal relationships as a result of their experiences at work. They are more likely to experience conflicts with coworkers, family members, and friends^4,5 and may perceive negative impacts on their parenting abilities, according to a study of Canadian public safety workers.⁵ Lastly, a study of EMTs and nurses demonstrated workers grappling with burnout have increased use of sick leave, higher intent to leave, and greater turnover.⁶ These career-related harms may also have detrimental effects on public safety organizations and the communities they serve, but there is very little research specific to public safety workers. More research is needed in this area.

References

1. Díaz-Tamayo AM, Escobar-Morantes JR, García-Perdomo HA. Coping Strategies for Exposure to Trauma Situations in First Responders: A Systematic Review. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine. 2022;37(6):810-818.
2. Smith-MacDonald L, Lentz L, Malloy D, Brémault-Phillips S, Carleton RN. Meat in a Seat: A Grounded Theory Study Exploring Moral Injury in Canadian Public Safety Communicators, Firefighters, and Paramedics. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(22):12145.
3. Stanley IH, Hom MA, Joiner TE. A systematic review of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics. Clin Psychol Rev. 2016;44:25-44.
4. Dill J, Schimmelpfennig M, Anderson-Fletcher E. Wounds of the Spirit: Moral Injury in Firefighters. 2023.
5. Rodrigues S, Mercier JM, McCall A, Nannarone M, Hosseiny F. “Against everything that got you into the job”: experiences of potentially morally injurious events among Canadian public safety personnel. European journal of psychotraumatology. 2023;14(2):2205332-2205332.
6. Crowe RP, Bower JK, Cash RE, Panchal AR, Rodriguez SA, Olivo-Marston SE. Association of Burnout with Workforce-Reducing Factors among EMS Professionals. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2018;22(2):229-236.