RCMP Spouses and Partners: Understanding PTSD and Finding Support

The job of RCMP Officer is tough, often involving stressful events, long hours, and the pressure of keeping everyone safe. While we often focus on the officers, it’s important to remember the impact on their spouses and partners. This article explores the challenges faced by RCMP families, especially concerning Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and looks at the support available.

Understanding PTSD: From “Shell Shock” to Today

In the past, understanding of PTSD (once called “shell shock”) was limited within the RCMP. Support for families wasn’t official; it mostly came from informal networks of spouses and partners helping each other.

As time went on, awareness of PTSD grew, both within the RCMP and in the wider public. This led the RCMP to take a more proactive approach, formally recognizing the condition and its impact on officers and their families.

The early 2000s saw a big push to address PTSD. The RCMP started several programs, including the “Road to Mental Readiness” (R2MR) program, which aims to reduce the stigma around mental health and teach RCMP members about it RCMP mental health support. R2MR provides training to help officers manage mental health in their demanding jobs.

Another key step was creating Operational Stress Injury (OSI) Clinics. These clinics, often partnering with Veterans Affairs Canada, offer specialized assessment and treatment for operational stress injuries, including PTSD in RCMP Officers.

The RCMP also offers Employee Assistance Services (EAS) and a Member-Employee Assistance Program (MEAP), providing confidential, short-term counseling to members, employees, and their families. The RCMP has implemented Periodic Psychological Health Assessments, which are mandatory mental health check-ins.

The RCMP states that their Family Support, Policies and Programs are for both members and their families.

Early support for spouses/partners was mostly informal, and consistent data wasn’t really collected.

Support for Families: A Team Effort

Support for RCMP spouses and partners dealing with PTSD and related issues comes from several places: the RCMP itself, government agencies (federal and provincial), and third-party organizations and charities.

Support from the RCMP:

The RCMP offers programs to help members and their families. The Employee Assistance Services (EAS) provides short-term, confidential counseling for all RCMP employees and their immediate family members.

The Member-Employee Assistance Program (MEAP) is similar to EAS but designed specifically for RCMP members. It offers counseling and emphasizes peer support, recognizing the value of shared experiences.

The RCMP Family Support program highlights challenges and suggests resources.

Support from Government Agencies (Federal & Provincial):

Beyond the RCMP, support is available through government agencies. Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), while primarily for veterans, sometimes helps RCMP members and, possibly, their families, through its OSI clinics.

Provincially, mental health services are accessed through each province’s healthcare system. In Alberta, Alberta Health Services (AHS) offers crisis lines, addiction and mental health helplines, and community-based mental health clinics.

Alberta Health Services (AHS):

AHS provides various kinds of mental health assistance for RCMP Officers, including crisis lines for immediate support, specialized helplines, and clinics for ongoing care.

Support from Charities and Other Organizations:

Many organizations complement the support from the RCMP and government.

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) offers mental health services and resources across Canada, including support groups and educational programs.

• The Alberta Division of the CMHA tailors services and programs for locals.

Wounded Warriors Canada focuses on veterans and first responders with OSI/PTSD, and some programs are also available to families.

Badge of Life Canada focuses on mental health support for police personnel and their families, offering resources specifically related to PTSD.

OSI-CAN helps current and former serving members, and their families, affected by Operational Stress Injuries.

The Tema Conter Memorial Trust provides resources and support for public safety personnel and their families.

How Well Does the Support Work? Identifying Gaps

While there’s a system of support, it’s hard to measure its exact effectiveness for RCMP spouses and partners. There isn’t much public research specifically on this topic. However, research on support for families of first responders with PTSD shows positive results, like lower stress and better coping skills.

Despite these potential benefits, several barriers can prevent spouses and partners from getting the help they need:

• Stigma: The stigma around mental health can make spouses and partners hesitant to seek help, fearing judgment.
• Confidentiality Concerns: Because the RCMP environment values confidentiality, spouses and partners may worry that seeking help could affect their partner’s career. Working with a mental health professional ensures confidentiality in mental health services for RCMP Officers.
• Accessibility Issues: Geographic location is a big challenge. Those in remote areas might have limited access to mental health services. Even in cities, wait times can be long. Costs can also be a barrier.
• Awareness Gaps: Spouses and partners might not know about all the available resources.
• Cultural Responsiveness: Services are not created for all cultures.

Unique Challenges for RCMP Spouses and Partners: A Life of Change

The RCMP lifestyle presents unique challenges that can worsen the impact of PTSD and create extra stress for spouses and partners.

Frequent Moves:

RCMP officers often relocate every few years. These moves disrupt spouses’ careers, break social networks, and force them to find new healthcare providers and support services.

Vicarious Trauma:

RCMP officers regularly deal with traumatic events. Spouses and partners can experience vicarious trauma by hearing about these experiences, leading to emotional distress.

The Need for Confidentiality:

The nature of RCMP work requires secrecy. This can prevent spouses and partners from fully discussing their partner’s work and its emotional impact with others.

Unpredictable Work Hours:

Shift work, emergencies, and deployments can disrupt family life, making it hard to plan and maintain routines.

Social Isolation:

RCMP postings can be in remote areas, leading to social isolation for spouses and partners who lack support networks.

While the RCMP helps with relocations, the emotional and social impacts of these moves may require more specific support.

Ongoing Issues: Funding, Access, and Stigma

Supporting RCMP spouses and partners involves ongoing debates and challenges.

Funding:

Adequate funding for mental health services and family support programs is a constant concern. Many believe current funding is insufficient.

Access:

Ensuring equal access to services across Canada, especially in remote areas, is a challenge. Telehealth and mobile outreach services might help.

Stigma:

Despite efforts to reduce stigma, it remains a barrier. The RCMP culture sometimes emphasizes stoicism, making it hard to acknowledge mental health struggles in police work.

Confidentiality vs. Support:

Balancing confidentiality in police work with the need for family support is tricky. Spouses and partners need to feel safe seeking help without jeopardizing their partner’s career.

Support in Alberta for RCMP Officers

While the RCMP is a federal organization, how services are delivered varies between provinces.

Provincial Healthcare Systems:

Mental healthcare in Canada is mainly provincial. Alberta Health Services (AHS) has its own structure and wait times, which differ from other provinces.

Specialized Services:

The availability of specialized services, like OSI clinics, varies.

Third-Party Organization Presence:

The presence of organizations like the CMHA or Wounded Warriors Canada varies across provinces.

Rural/Urban Differences:

Access to services is generally harder in rural areas, which is significant in large provinces like Alberta. This can be helped by using telehealth for mental health services.

Alberta-Specific Programs:

Alberta has its own programs:

• Alberta Health Services: Provides mental health resources.
• CMHA Alberta Division: Offers area-specific programs.

While the RCMP provides core support, the experience for a spouse in Alberta differs from that in other provinces.

The challenges faced by RCMP spouses and partners related to PTSD and the stresses of RCMP life are significant and complex. If you are the partner or spouse of an RCMP member, and any of these challenges sound familiar, Responders First can help. Reach out to us today to learn more.

Don Davis

15+ years of emergency response experience. Passionate about connecting our first responder communities with critical resources. Author of hundreds of articles and guides on First Responders mental health care. When not responding to emergencies, you can find me playing with my dogs, hiking, or enjoying a good book.