RCMP plan to launch study on operational stress, PTSD in Mounties

Canada's national police force is lookingto launch a study intothe mental and physiologicalmarkers for depression, addictions andpost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in its officers.

Details of the study are outlined in a request for proposallisted on the federal government's buy and sellwebsite, which shows the RCMP is looking to hire a multidisciplinary team of experts, including psychologists, clinicians andpsychiatrists, to conduct the research.

"These specialists will collaborate with the RCMP starting at the cadet level, and then conduct a longitudinal experimental study that will follow those cadets over the next 10 years," Cpl.Annie Delisle, a spokesperson for the RCMP, wrote in an email response to CBC News.

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CBC was told an interview could not be accommodated by the time of deadline.

New treatments

Researchers would be required tofocus on identifyingthe psychological and physiological markers for operational stress injuries like PTSD in officers.

"This research will be used to develop innovative evidence-based interventions to increase resiliency and to deliver preemptive interventions to protect the mental health of police officers," according toDelisle.

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The RCMP says despite current strategiesto preventmental health issues, it continues to lose officers to stress and trauma related injuries.

In 2016, the RCMP said 249 new long-term disability claims were filed and ofthose46.9per cent cited mental health issues. In 2014, that figure was 41.7 per cent.

Research 'long overdue'

B.C's Dr. Jeff Morley, a retired Mountie turned registered psychologist whoworks with first responders and members of the Canadian Forces and Veteran Affairs Canada, welcomesnews of the study.

He saidthepsychological tollpolice work has on individuals is well known and that research of this scope is "long overdue."

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"When we hire new cops they're pretty healthy. They've got physical tests, psychological tests, they'repolygraphed, they're background checked, I mean arguablythey're pretty squeaky clean, right? And we know they're not going to stay that way.

'We know that some police officers, you know, are going to develop PTSD, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, addictions ... Rarely, in my experience, has that happened in just a moment. It usually evolves over time throughout the course of one's career," Morley explained.

"The more information that we can obtain to better understand how police work affects employees, officers over time, the better."

He saidcurrentrates ofoperational stress injuries among membersis unknown due to a lack of formal research on the subject.

Citing differentstudies done in the U.S and Canada, he said20 per centis a conservative estimate for how many members experience mental health issues.

960 volunteers needed

According to proposal, the study would take place at the RCMP training depot in Regina and thefindings be funnelled to Ottawa.

In order to "obtain statistically useful data," it requires960 cadets be recruited to participate within three years from when the contract for the study isawarded.

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TheRCMPreports 1,110 cadets are trained in the depot each year. That breaks down into 34 troops per year that can be comprised of up to 32 cadets.

Once recruited, cadetswould bedivided into a control and experimental group.

When we hire new cops they're pretty healthy. They've got physical tests, psychological tests, they're polygraphed, they'rebackground checked, arguably they'repretty squeaky clean, right? And we know they're not going to stay that way.- Dr. Jeff Morley

Those placed in the experimentalgroup would receive "evidence-based interventions," such as cognitive behavioural therapy, throughout the study "for increasing resiliency and reducing psychological risk," to stress injures, the statement reads.

Before any study could begin,the RCMP'shuman resources research review board would need to sign off on the team's research plan in order to ensure it meets ethical standards.

Start at cadet training

Cadets must undergo a six-month training regime before they are formally accepted into the RCMP and deployed as sworn members. If a cadet does not pass training, they will be disqualified from the study.

The RCMPspecifiesthat participating cadets mustbe psychologically assessed by the research team within a week ofarriving at the depot for training, and once againbefore they are deployed.

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Once cadets leave the academy, eachwill be expected to participatethe study for up to five years, unless they leave the RCMP or decide to withdraw themselves.

"Participants will complete regular self-report assessments, provide physiological data, as well as participate in an annual psychological assessment," according to the project'sstatement of work.

"An efficient way in which to collect and transmit data [physiological, self-report assessments, etc.] would be through asmartphoneor similar mobile device."

TheRCMPstates researcherswould have to supply960 mobile devices, one for each participant.

Physical measurements

The study wouldseeofficers strap on some form of wearable technologyin order for researchers to monitor and record their heart rate variability and possibly sleep pattern and breathing.

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Morely said the plan to track an officer's psychological state over time is wise.

"This is what we know about trauma. PTSD is not just like a problem or symptoms that just affect one's cognitive functioning. It certainly affects our emotions, but also sleep, heart rate, changes in cardiovascular symptoms.

"Many people with PTSD have chronically spiked adrenaline, severe difficulties sleeping."

The more data, the better

The research team will be expected to submit regular progress reports, data findings, and training recommendations to the RCMP.

The project's statement of work specifies recommendations must address whether the psychological practices taught to members in the experiment group should continue and if the training impacts their mental health.

Saying whether regular psychological assessments should continue and how the RCMP can decrease the severity and prevalence of operational stress injuries are also expected in the final report.

"The more data we can have to better understand [post-traumatic stress disorder], may not necessarily prevent it at 100 per cent for sure, but may equip people to better recognize early warning signs in themselves and others," Morley said.

"Exposure to trauma cannot be prevented, that's part of the job," he said.