PTSS Lab - Innovative PTSI Research for Trauma Exposed Professionals

PTSS Lab
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Official research podcast of the The Psychological Trauma and Stress Systems (PTSS) Lab at the University of Regina. The PTSS Lab is dedicated to advancing mental health research, support, and solutions for trauma-exposed professionals, including first responders and other public safety personnel (PSP), healthcare workers, military members, and Veterans. * This podcast is created with assistance using generative A.I.

  1. Talking About Mental Health Changes in Early Career RCMP with Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton

    12/15/2025

    Talking About Mental Health Changes in Early Career RCMP with Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton

    Research has long established that serving RCMP members frequently screen positive for mental health disorders, but it has remained unclear exactly when these challenges begin to develop after deployment. Listen to the podcast to learn about the significant increase in positive screens for disorders like PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder after just the first year of service, and how these findings challenge the debate regarding recruitment screening versus service-related injury.

    6 min
  2. Talking about the Link between Mental Health and Physical Health of RCMP Cadets with Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton

    11/26/2025

    Talking about the Link between Mental Health and Physical Health of RCMP Cadets with Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton

    First responders face an elevated risk of Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE) due to occupational stressors, yet the early physiological warning signs linking the "head to the heart" often go undetected during early training. Listen to the podcast to learn how mental health symptoms were found to correlate with increased cardiac strain among RCMP Cadets and what these findings from the 10-year RCMP Study mean for early prevention.

    4 min
  3. Talking About Personality Changes During the RCMP CTP with Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton

    11/26/2025

    Talking About Personality Changes During the RCMP CTP with Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton

    Police recruit training is associated with a major shift in social roles and might influence personality, but currently, there is limited research assessing personality changes in RCMP Cadets following the Cadet Training Program. Listen to the podcast to learn about how the training program influences traits like anxiety, perfectionism, and inquisitiveness, resulting in personality profiles considered desirable for contemporary policing.

    4 min
  4. Talking About Trauma Exposures During the RCMP CTP with Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton

    09/02/2025

    Talking About Trauma Exposures During the RCMP CTP with Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton

    RCMP are frequently exposed to potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTEs) while on duty, but it is less clear if RCMP cadets are exposed to PPTEs during the 26-week Cadet Training Program (CTP). Determining when career-related PPTE exposures begin to accumulate can help to inform additional opportunities to increase the safety and well-being of cadets during the CTP and while serving. Listen to the podcast to learn about the types of PPTEs experienced by cadets during the CTP and their impact on mental health.

    4 min
  5. Talking Childhood Adversity and Resilience of RCMP Cadets with Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton

    07/15/2025

    Talking Childhood Adversity and Resilience of RCMP Cadets with Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton

    Public safety personnel are frequently exposed to potentially psychologically traumatic events during their work, but there is less understanding regarding adverse experiences that PSP may have faced before entering the profession. Listen to the podcast to learn about how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may impact resilience among RCMP Cadets starting the Cadet Training Program.

    4 min
  6. Talking Monthly Mental Health Self-Monitoring in the RCMP PTSD Study with Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton

    07/14/2025

    Talking Monthly Mental Health Self-Monitoring in the RCMP PTSD Study with Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton

    Current research suggests that RCMP cadet mental health when starting the Cadet Training Program appears comparable to, or better than, the general public. At pre-deployment, the same Cadets evidenced improved mental health relative to their pre-training assessments, and better mental health than serving RCMP. Listen to the podcast to learn about the self-monitoring tools provided to RCMP Study participants and how they directly and indirectly support participant mental health.

    6 min
  7. Talking Cardiac Cycle Patterns Among RCMP Cadets with Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton

    07/14/2025

    Talking Cardiac Cycle Patterns Among RCMP Cadets with Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton

    The cardiac cycle timing intervals and measurements of heart function can provide key insights to an individual’s stress levels. Considering that RCMP members have an increased risk for developing various posttraumatic stress injuries, monitoring their heart function can be vital to identify worrisome changes which can lead to a future medical complication. Listen to the podcast to learn about cardiac cycle metrics of the RCMP cadets beginning the Cadet Training Program.

    4 min
  8. Talking Risk and Resilience of RCMP Cadets Completing Training with Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton

    07/14/2025

    Talking Risk and Resilience of RCMP Cadets Completing Training with Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton

    Despite the higher prevalence of mental health disorders among serving RCMP relative to the general population, RCMP cadets begin training with lower putative risk and greater perceived resilience than young adults in the general population. Listen to the podcast to learn about the effectiveness of the Cadet Training Program in strengthening RCMP cadets’ mental health through putative risk and resilience factors.

    3 min
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About

Official research podcast of the The Psychological Trauma and Stress Systems (PTSS) Lab at the University of Regina. The PTSS Lab is dedicated to advancing mental health research, support, and solutions for trauma-exposed professionals, including first responders and other public safety personnel (PSP), healthcare workers, military members, and Veterans. * This podcast is created with assistance using generative A.I.

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