Examining first responders’ knowledge and attitudes towards mental health difficulties as possible barriers to seeking psychological help

Abstract

The job of a first responder requires them to provide immediate assistance in critical incidents. This means that they are routinely exposed to potentially traumatic events. The stressful nature of their occupation has been associated with poorer mental health and a higher prevalence of mental health disorders (Szeto et al., 2019). Nonetheless, studies (Erich, 2004; Royle et al., 2009) have shown that there seems to be a reluctance towards seeking psychological help. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine mental health knowledge and attitudes towards mental health difficulties as possible barriers to seeking psychological help in a sample of Maltese first responders. A quantitative methodology was adopted and analysis involved both explicit and implicit measures. The tools included a self-report questionnaire developed by the researcher to examine concerns and barriers towards seeking psychological help, the Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS, Evans-Lacko et al., 2010) and Community Attitudes Toward the Mentally Ill (CAMI, Taylor & Dear, 1981). Additionally, an Implicit Association Test (IAT, Greenwald et al., 1998) was administered in order to measure the implicit attitudes of the first responders towards mental health difficulties. This allowed for a more accurate understanding of the first responders’ attitudes by tapping into their underlying processes (Meissner et al., 2019). The sample consisted of 253 participants and was initially split into four groups; Civil Protection Department, Armed Forces of Malta, Emergency Medical Team and Malta Police Force. The results showed that there is a difference between the four groups in their mental health knowledge and explicit attitudes. No difference was found in the implicit attitudes between the four groups. Participants were later split into two groups, those who reported that they had concerns about seeking psychological help and those who did not have any concerns. No difference was found in the first responders' knowledge and attitudes (both explicit and implicit) towards mental health difficulties between the two groups. Results also showed that lower mental health stigma-related knowledge is associated with more negative implicit attitudes towards mental health difficulties. These findings indicated that by providing peer support networks and anti-stigma interventions, more positive attitudes towards mental health difficulties might be fostered in first responders. Frequent educational programs which specifically focus on increasing stigma related knowledge might also aid in increasing positive attitudes. Further research is warranted to identify other factors that may play a role in first responders’ concerns towards seeking psychological help.