Rationale: Public safety workers, first responders, health professionals and correctional workers (CWs) in U.S. prisons and jails frequently encounter critical incidents (CIs) such as assaults, medical emergencies, and exposure to traumatic events, which negatively impact their physical and mental health.
Objectives: This session will explore a decade of research and occupational therapy projects addressing stress and trauma among a variety of public safety professionals. Examples include multi-level resources (training, policies and peer support) for jail and prison workers, hospital staff participatory needs assessment, nursing wellness, and identifying critical incidents among correctional personnel.
Approach: Examples from our study findings will provide insight into the variability of institutional responses to critical incidents and underscore the urgent need for occupational therapy interventions. We will explore types of interventions that OT practitioners build through participatory input and continuous improvement including staff training and mental health resources to enhance preparation for, detection of and response to critical incidents and trauma.
Implications: We will discuss innovative solutions and best practices for addressing stress, trauma and critical incident challenges and supporting public safety and health professionals’ well-being. At the end of this session OT practitioners will be able to identify their existing skills to address workplace health and trauma and how to grow them.
Contribution: Addressing workplace health needs is an innovative area of practice for OT with few providing these needed services. Attendees will be inspired to consider their role in existing practice, education and/ or advocacy to serve workplace health needs towards improving population health.