The mental health and safety of police personnel, and their first responder partners, has long
been a high priority for both the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and the
Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC). There is an increasing awareness of the tragic
consequences of post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI) among first responders in Canada. There
is also an increasing awareness of the lack of understanding about the economic and social
costs of PTSI and more general mental health issues facing all personnel within Canadian
police organizations.
Many police organizations continue to make considerable progress applying progressive
solutions and encouraging us all to change how we think about mental health ... But there are
still gaps in our knowledge, in our confidence, and in our collective actions.
The CACP & MHCC, in collaboration with The Canadian Police Association (CPA), The
Canadian Association of Police Governance (CAPG), The CACP Research Foundation (CACPRF), The Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT) and Public
Safety Canada (PSC) invite you to join into this watershed event that will explore and inform
these vital questions on three intersecting tracks.
1. Research and Evidence Track
2. Continuum of Care Track
3. Human Resources and Police Operations Track
In this two-day highly interactive conference, we will work together through an action-oriented
program to advance evidence-based solutions for the effective prevention, treatment and
recovery from the mental health issues that can potentially affect all our police personnel.
Conference Goals
1. Examine the current state of research and available evidence in support of proven strategies,
practices and policy frameworks that can assist police organizations to prevent, respond and
treat, and support the accommodation and recovery needs of police personnel, across a full
range of mental health issues.
2. Examine a range of promising and/or proven practices in Canada and elsewhere, across the
full continuum of care, with a view to making such practices more available to all police
MHPP 2017 – Updated on January 31, 2017
organizations, and to identify additional requirements for evaluation and reliable outcomes
measurement.
3. Consider the potential risks and mental health implications of major incidents and mass
casualty events, building on experiences elsewhere, with a view to advancing Canada’s
general readiness in this regard.
4. Identify, examine, and/or develop informed strategies and related policy and practice
solutions for addressing the human resource management and the operational and business
challenges associated with mental health issues in the policing workplace.
5. Develop and consolidate collaborative strategies among the conference partners and
participating delegates to communicate and carry forward priority actions determined
through three concurrent tracks of in-depth study and discussion.
Who Should Attend
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Police Executives, Managers, Policy Makers or Governing Officials
Police Personnel or Police Association Representatives
Police Human Resource Practitioners
Mental Health Practitioners or Policy Makers
Police or Mental Health Educators
Police or Mental Health Researchers
Members of the police community or other first responders who have lived experience
of mental health problems and illnesses (including current and former employees of
police organizations, and their families and advocates)
Monday, February 13, 2017
17:00-19:00
Onsite Registration (Hotel Lobby)
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
07:00
Onsite Registration (Beethoven Foyer)
07:00-08:30
Continental Breakfast (Chopin Foyer)
08:30-16:30
Plenary Sessions (Beethoven/Chopin)
08:30-09:15
Opening Remarks and Context Setting
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INTRODUCTORY SESSION
THEME: TAKING ACTION ON MENTAL HEALTH … TOGETHER
Objective
To introduce and establish a shared call to action, to move beyond exploration and awareness,
and instead, to focus the conference efforts on actionable strategies across all three tracks of
the program.
Presenters
• Directeur Mario Harel, O.O.M., Gatineau Police Service, President, Canadian
Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP)
• Louise Bradley, President, Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)
• Maureen Shaw, Chair, HR Committee, Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board: The
National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace – A
Foundation for MHPP 2017
• Norman E. Taylor, Program Director, CACP Executive Global Studies and Conference
Lead Moderator
SERIES 1 – WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT WE ARE LEARNING ABOUT MHPP
09:15-10:45
Series Objective
This first series of presentations and discussions is designed to establish the current baseline of
available evidence related to MHPP and other First Responder MH issues, to inform conference
delegates of the direction and scope of current and anticipated research and evaluative
studies, and to highlight critical priorities in need of deeper and/or broader scientific
examination.
SESSION 1A
The State of the Nation on Mental Health Research for First Responders
Presenter and Series Moderator
• Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton, University of Regina, Canadian Institute for Public Safety
Research and Treatment (CIPSRT)
SESSION 1B
The Vital Importance of Evidence for Our Members Health and Safety
Presenter
• Tom Stamatakis, M.O.M., President, Canadian Police Association (CPA)
SESSION 1C
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Mental Health Research for First Responders – Government of Canada Action Plan on Post
Traumatic Stress Injuries
Presenter
• Stéphanie Durand, A/Assistant Deputy Minister, Emergency Management and
Programs Branch, Public Safety Canada
10:45-11:00
Network Break (Chopin Foyer)
SERIES 2 – PROMISING PRACTICES ALONG THE MHPP CONTINUUM OF CARE
11:00-12:15
Series Objective
This second series will seek to establish a common understanding of the continuum of care
that applies to MHPP, considered from the standpoint of various manifestations and
interpretations of workplace mental health issues. It will also showcase a number of illustrative
practices, and trace the evidence (available and/or yet required) in support of the relative
effectiveness and outcomes from various approaches along that continuum of care.
Consideration will also be given to the peculiar needs and limitations affecting urban, rural and
remote policing environments.
SESSION 2A
Addressing the Full Continuum of Care: Prevention, Treatment & Support, Recovery
Presenters and Series Moderators
• Dr. Terry Coleman, M.O.M., Advisor, Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)
• Dr. Dorothy Cotton, Advisor, Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)
SESSION 2B
Negative Affective Responses to Stress: A General Strain Theory Approach to MHPP
Presenter
• Sergeant Stephen Bishopp, Associate Director for Research, Caruth Police Institute,
Dallas, TX
SESSION 2C
Continuum of Care Showcase of Promising Practices
Presenters
Critical Incident Training and Re-Integration Program
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• Corporal Steve Oster, National Use of Force, RCMP
• Sergeant Glen Klose, Member Re-Integration, Edmonton Police Service
• Sergeant Colleen Mooney, Member Re-Integration, Edmonton Police Service
Emerging Trends on the MHPP Continuum of Care
• Marisa Cornacchia, VP Clinical Operations, Aleafia
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In an open discussion format, additional Police Service representatives (urban, rural and
remote) will also showcase, provide available supporting evidence, and engage in
discussion on the promise of current practices in Canada along the Continuum of Care
12:15-13:30
Lunch (Chopin Foyer)
FEATURE SEGMENT – UNDERSTANDING AND PREPARING FOR THE IMPACTS FOR FIRST
RESPONDERS FROM MASS VICTIMIZATION INCIDENTS (MVI’s)
13:30-14:00
Feature Objective
MVI’s result in both direct victims, the bereaved and next of kin, and indirect victims such as
first responders, police officers, and the wider community that has to cope with the trauma in
the aftermath of the victimization. Often, both direct and indirect victims suffer long-term
physical and psychological effects, including but not limited to post-traumatic stress injuries
(PTSI). Ensuring that police personnel and other first responders are included in and
understood to be victims suffering impact following an MVI, is significant in contributing to the
accessibility and eligibility for services that may help to mitigate stress responses to trauma, as
well as to diagnose, respond, and treat when PTSI may present. This feature segment will
examine Canada’s readiness in this regard, building upon experience gained from high profile
MVIs and proven response strategies.
Presenter
• Mary Fetchet, LCSW, Founding Director, VOICES of September 11th, New York City
SERIES 3 – OPERATIONAL AND HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS IN
RESPONSE TO MHPP
14:00-15:30
Series Objective
Drawing upon a growing body of generalized Canadian experience in workplace mental health
programming, this segment will seek to highlight a number of critical questions and challenges
that remain within policing, both with regard to human resource matters, and to the
operational challenges associated with MHPP and their potential impacts upon the economics
MHPP 2017 – Updated on January 31, 2017
of policing. Consideration will also be given to the peculiar needs and limitations affecting
urban, rural and remote policing environments.
Series Moderators
• Steve Schnitzer, Co-Chair, CACP Human Resources and Learning Committee
• Deputy Chief Mark Chatterbok, M.O.M., Co-Chair, CACP Human Resources and
Learning Committee
SESSION 3A
Case Studies in Implementing Sustainable Workplace Mental Health Strategies
Presenter
Workplace Mental Health Services for Bell Canada Employees
• Robert St. Germain, Public Safety Group, Bell Canada
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Illustrative Case Study Examples (TBD) will also be drawn from among the delegates on
hand
SESSION 3B
The Human Resource Management and Legal Considerations in MHPP
Presenter
Calculating and Responding to the HRM & Legal Challenges in First Responder Mental
Health
• Dr. Martin Shain, University of Toronto
SESSION 3C
The Challenges and Opportunities for Managing Mental Health Issues in Policing Operations
Presenter
The Ontario Provincial Police Experience to Date with a Comprehensive MH Strategy
• Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner J.V.N. (Vince) Hawkes, C.O.M.
15:30-15:45
Network Break (Chopin Foyer)
SESSION 4 – INTERIM PANEL – WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW AND DO?
15:45-16:30
Panel Session Objective
This interactive panel session will draw together the lessons learned thus far, and will isolate
and/or refine the priority questions deriving from each of the preceding series, with a view to
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establishing the framework for the concurrent sessions to follow on Day 2 of the conference.
Presenters
• Norman E. Taylor, Conference Lead Moderator
• Selected Panelists from Series One, Two and Three (TBD)
16:30-17:30
Delegate Reception (Beethoven Foyer)
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
07:30-08:30
Continental Breakfast (Chopin Foyer)
08:30-14:30
Plenary Sessions (Beethoven/Chopin)
08:30-08:45
Opening to Day 2 – Sometimes Even Heroes Need a Home
Presenter
• Al De Genova, Director and President, Honour House Society
08:45-09:00
Recap & Intro to Day 2
Presenter
• Norman E. Taylor, Conference Lead Moderator
SESSION 5 – CONCURRENT TRACK DISCUSSIONS
09:00-10:15
CONCURRENT SESSION 5A – Research and Evidence Track (Julien / Gagnon / Walker)
Session Moderators
• Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton, University of Regina, Canadian Institute for Public Safety
Research and Treatment (CIPSRT)
• Steve Palmer, University of Regina, Collaborative Centre for Justice and Safety (CCJS),
Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT)
Initial Guiding Questions
Subject to refinements and additions from Day 1 of the conference, the following questions
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will frame the discussions among delegates who select participation in this track:
1. What is our collective satisfaction (or level of concern) with the current arc of MHPP
research in Canada?
2. What common organizational stressors, and what unique challenges associated with
policing, are contributing most to MHPP issues and what (Cdn) evidence do we have in
this area?
3. What can police executives, governing authorities, and member associations learn and
apply immediately from currently available research?
4. What additional research is indicated as a national policing priority?
CONCURRENT SESSION 5B – Continuum of Care Track (Suzor-Côté)
Session Moderators
• Dr. Terry Coleman, M.O.M., Advisor, Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)
• Dr. Dorothy Cotton, Advisor, Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)
Initial Guiding Questions
Subject to refinements and additions from Day 1 of the conference, the following questions
will frame the discussions among delegates who select participation in this track:
1. How can police services (or other workplace examples) successfully utilize lived
experience, and at what stages has this shown to be most effective?
2. How can police services (or other workplace examples) successfully utilize peer
involvement, and at what stages has this shown to be most effective?
3. How can police services (or other workplace examples) successfully utilize the inclusion
of and/or consideration to family and caregivers, and the strengthening of support
networks, and at what stages have these shown to be most effective?
4. How can police services (or other workplace examples) most effectively address
recovery, accommodation and return to work strategies?
5. What levels of success have been shown with regard to MH Safety Planning and other
preventive models, and how can police services gain from this experience?
CONCURRENT SESSION 5C – Human Resources and Police Operations Track
(Beethoven/Chopin)
Session Moderators
• Steve Schnitzer, Co-Chair, CACP Human Resources and Learning Committee
• Deputy Chief Mark Chatterbok, M.O.M., Co-Chair, CACP Human Resources and
Learning Committee
Initial Guiding Questions
Subject to refinements and additions from Day 1 of the conference, the following questions
MHPP 2017 – Updated on January 31, 2017
will frame the discussions among delegates who select participation in this track:
1. What are other industries or organizations doing internally to address mental health
problems/issues in the workplace? To what degree are they evidence based and
transferrable to police organizations?
2. What should a mental health strategy in a police organization look like and how should
such a strategy be developed and implemented?
3. Is there anything inherent in the ‘policing culture’ that needs to be recognized and
addressed in order to support an effective mental health strategy in a police
organization?
4. How can police services and their governing bodies most effectively balance economic
and operational pressures on the employer with the need to meet the individual needs
of members?
5. In what ways, and on what vital issues, should a police organization’s general strategy,
business plan and budget, operational planning, and/or risk management programming
be informed and guided by its comprehensive MHPP strategy?
10:15-10:30
Network Break (Chopin Foyer)
SESSION 6 – PLENARY DISCUSSION: HIGHLIGHTS OF TRACK DELIBERATIONS
10:30-12:00
Session Objective
Utilizing a ‘Town Hall’ format, this interactive plenary session will be framed around the
reports deriving from each of the concurrent track discussions, delivered by the respective
session moderators. The aim will be to ensure that all delegates are fully informed of the
directions taken and the outcomes achieved in all tracks examined in depth during the
concurrent activities.
Presenters
• Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton, University of Regina, Canadian Institute for Public Safety
Research and Treatment (CIPSRT)
• Steve Palmer, University of Regina, Collaborative Centre for Justice and Safety (CCJS),
Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT)
• Dr. Terry Coleman, M.O.M., Advisor, Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)
• Dr. Dorothy Cotton, Advisor, Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)
• Steve Schnitzer, Co-Chair, CACP Human Resources and Learning Committee
• Deputy Chief Mark Chatterbok, M.O.M., Co-Chair, CACP Human Resources and
Learning Committee
12:00-13:00
Lunch (Chopin Foyer)
MHPP 2017 – Updated on January 31, 2017
SESSION 7 – CONSOLIDATION PANEL AND COLLECTIVE FORWARD ACTION
13:00-14:15
Panel Objective
This moderated panel discussion will consolidate the information, emerging themes and
potential action plans arising from the two day event, and will result in media lines intended to
summarize the conference outcomes and next steps. Outcomes will include concrete actions
for CACP Committees, MHCC, governments, researchers, partner associations, delegates and
their agencies for advancing our capacities in Canada for the prevention, response and
recovery from mental health issues affecting police personnel, as well as clear plans for
continuing cooperation across the broader First Responder community.
Panelists
• Directeur Mario Harel, O.O.M., Gatineau Police Service, President, Canadian
Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP)
• Tom Stamatakis, M.O.M., President, Canadian Police Association (CPA)
• Representative, Canadian Association of Police Governance (CAPG)
• Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton, University of Regina, Canadian Institute for Public Safety
Research and Treatment (CIPSRT)
Moderator
• Norm Taylor, Conference Lead Moderator
14:15
Conference Close
MHPP 2017 – Updated on January 31, 2017