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Workplace
Short report
Relationship between trauma, psychological distress and help-seeking among corrective service workers
  1. Daniel A J Collins1,2,
  2. Richard A Bryant3,
  3. Aimee Gayed1,2,
  4. Samuel B Harvey1,2,
  5. Mark Deady1,2
  1. 1 Black Dog Institute, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
  2. 2 Medicine & Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  3. 3 School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Mr Daniel A J Collins, Black Dog Institute, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia; daniel.collins{at}blackdog.org.au

Abstract

Background Corrective service workers (CSWs) are at high risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health problems. Prevalence rates and help-seeking behaviours are under-researched within this population.

Aims To assess rates of PTSD and distress, and identify predictors of intention to seek help, among workers at an Australian corrective service agency.

Methods A cross-sectional online survey was used to collect data on staff demographics, employment, PTSD symptoms and current distress. Participants received a tailored feedback report including referral to relevant mental health services (where applicable) and were asked to indicate their likelihood of seeking help. Prevalence data are reported. Binary logistic regression was used to examine relationships between participant characteristics and help-seeking for those with probable PTSD and/or high psychological distress.

Results Participants (n=1001) were predominantly men (56.8%) with a mean age of 46.72 (SD=11.00). Over half (58.0%) were classified as probable PTSD cases, and one-third (33.0%) were experiencing high psychological distress. Around a third (34.3%) of participants with probable PTSD and/or elevated distress indicated they were likely to seek help. Older age and fewer years of service were associated with increased help-seeking intentions.

Conclusions CSWs were found to be experiencing probable PTSD at higher rates than reported in previous studies. Relatively few intended to seek help from mental health services, despite being provided with personalised screening and feedback along with access to specialised care. Future research should investigate the potential role of organisational support as a facilitator of help-seeking within this population.

  • Occupational Health
  • Mental Health
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Data availability statement

Data are available upon reasonable request. Data can be obtained from the authors on reasonable request with approval from the UNSW Human Research Ethics Committee.

https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2023-109361

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    Data availability statement

    Data are available upon reasonable request. Data can be obtained from the authors on reasonable request with approval from the UNSW Human Research Ethics Committee.

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors MD and DAJC designed the study and developed the survey. DAJC collected and managed the data. DAJC analysed the data and drafted the manuscript with guidance from MD and SBH. All authors critically revised the manuscript draft and gave approval for publication prior to submission. RAB and SBH provided project supervision to the larger program of research. MD and DAJC act as guarantors of the work.

    • Funding This work was supported by funding from icare NSW (grant number RG193295) as part of their Front of Mind Research Scheme.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.