Grant: CIHR Café Scientifique Program - Open Pool

Due to the nature of their employment, Public Safety Personnel (PSP) regularly encounter emergency situations and are frequently exposed to critical stress incidents either as witnesses or victims. Routine exposure to these dangerous, often life-threatening, and potentially psychologically traumatizing events (PPTE), places PSP at increased risk of developing mental disorders. To address this, we conducted a case control study looking at coroner records to estimate the prevalence of PSP suicides and to describe the characteristics of PSP suicide deaths compared to the general population. We are proposing to host a free, hybrid Café Scientifique at the Museum of Nature in Ottawa, Ontario to mobilize the research evidence gathered through this study. This will feature a panel of researchers and knowledge users which will present an overview of the key study findings and a discussion of suicides in PSP more broadly. This will be an interactive event with most of the discussion directed by audience members. We have already engaged two knowledge users and will engage remaining speakers with a commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). The design of our event has also been informed by EDI principles to encourage attendance and participation among groups that have, historically, not been included in conversations about health research (e.g., women; Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour [BIPOC]; and, members of the LGBTQ+ community; and under-represented PSP groups). Advertising for this event will be informed by a communications plan and we will engage local, provincial, and national groups to ensure that our event is successful. We will also use a post-event survey to evaluate the event's successes and areas for improvement. The overarching goal of this event is not only to disseminate information about our research but to also engage the public in establishing future directions for PSP related research in Ottawa.