Recent research led by Queen’s University’s Dr. Megan Edgelow highlights a striking trend: psychological-injury claims among Ontario public safety personnel (corrections, dispatch, firefighters, paramedics, police) rose roughly 400 per cent between 2014 and 2018 and have remained high, with only one-third of people returning to work. A soon-to-be-released analysis details more than $1.4 billion in WSIB costs tied to these injuries – likely a conservative figure when employer-paid sick leave and replacement costs are also considered. A Coroner’s Review noting 34 correctional-worker deaths by suicide over 15 years, with half of these occurring since 2020, adds urgency.

In response, many public safety employers have moved to mitigate the impact of psychological injury. But rather than focusing on the health and safety of the workplace through improved staffing, job design, leadership training, benefits access, and anti-harassment policies, they have instead turned to mental health support programs, like EAPs, peer support and resilience training. While well intentioned, these programs often have low uptake from employees and also fail to address the workplace stressors that are contributing to psychological injury in the first place.

Dr. Edgelow recently wrote about this subject in The Conversation, and is available to discuss the data, practical employer strategies, and implications for provincial and municipal policy.

To arrange an interview, contact:

Andrew Carroll | Queen’s Media Relations