Public safety personnel (PSPs) are an occupational group particularly at risk for suicide behaviour (SB). In addition to personal dimensions (age, sex, gender, sexual orientation) that can influence this suicidal risk, professional and organizational dimensions can also influence this risk, such as exposure to potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTE), the masculine culture associated with these jobs, and the work context (full-time vs. part-time/voluntary; rural vs. urban).

There are various suicide prevention mechanisms, including telephone crisis lines, but PSPs appear unlikely to use such services. The main barriers to using these services are stigma, fear of confidentiality, and the feeling of not being understood by the interveners because of their particular work context. To address this concern, there is a need to offer services tailored to the needs of the PSP population, including the offering of specific services in the context of Canada’s suicide prevention crisis line. It is therefore important to explore what are the cultural specificities and needs of those PSPs and how to adapt services to meet these specificities and needs. If you have any questions, you can contact Isabelle Bernier, the project coordinator, by email at the following address: ibernier.iusmm@ssss.gouv.qc.ca