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Understanding Needs, Breaking Down Barriers: Examining Mental Health Challenges and Well-Being of Correctional Staff in Ontario, Canada

Resource type
Authors/contributors
Title
Understanding Needs, Breaking Down Barriers: Examining Mental Health Challenges and Well-Being of Correctional Staff in Ontario, Canada
Abstract
Mental health challenges appear to be extremely prolific and challenging for correctional service employees, affecting persons working in community, institutional, and administrative correctional services. Focusing specifically on correctional workers employed by the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General, we shed light on their interpretations of the complexities of their occupational work and of how their work affects staff. Using a qualitative thematic approach to data analyses, we show that participants (n = 67) encounter barriers to treatment seeking, which they describe as tremendous, starting with benefits, wages, and shift work. We let the voices of staff elucidate what is needed to create a healthier correctional workforce. Recommendations include more training opportunities and programs; quarterly, semiannual, or annual appointments with a mental health professional who can assess changes in the mental health status of employees; offsite assessments to ensure confidentiality; and team building opportunities to reduce interpersonal conflict at work and increase moral by improving the work environment.
Publication
Frontiers in Psychology
Volume
11
Pages
10 pages
Date
2020
ISSN
1664-1078
Short Title
Understanding Needs, Breaking Down Barriers
Accessed
11/15/21, 7:16 PM
Library Catalog
Frontiers
Citation
Ricciardelli, R., Carleton, R. N. (R. N., Gacek, J., & Groll, D. L. (2020). Understanding Needs, Breaking Down Barriers: Examining Mental Health Challenges and Well-Being of Correctional Staff in Ontario, Canada. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 10 pages. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01036