Mental Health Monitoring – Consent Form

Consent Form

Project Title: Assessing Scaled Implementation of a Public Safety Personnel Mental Health Self-Monitoring Program

Project Email: ptsslab@uregina.ca

Project Phone: 1-888-381-6508

Please read the information below before deciding whether to participate in this research study.

1. Background and Purpose

The current consent form contains information about a research study in which you are invited to participate. The consent form includes important information that will help you make an informed decision about whether you wish to participate; for example: (1) why the study is being done, (2) what you will be asked to do, (3) the time commitment involved, (4) potential benefits and risks, and (5) how we will protect your privacy.

Exposure to potentially dangerous, harmful, or stressful situations can be an inherent part of the work done by public safety personnel (PSP). These exposures increase the likelihood of experiencing symptoms of PTSD or other mental health injuries. There is limited long-term research on how risk and resiliency factors impact PSP mental health.

This study builds on the RCMP Study (www.rcmpstudy.ca) and the PSP extension study (www.saskptsistudy.ca) to expand research across additional PSP groups.

The study is conducted by researchers led by Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton at the University of Regina. More information can be found at About the PTSS Lab: Advancing PSP Mental Health Research & Support. Participation is voluntary and not a requirement of employment.

If you decide to participate, the information you provide will not be used to evaluate any part of your work.

2. Procedures

If you choose to participate, you will complete an initial assessment and three yearly follow-up assessments (~90 minutes each), daily surveys (~1 minute/day), and monthly surveys (~20 minutes/month).

2.1 Initial and Yearly Assessments

Surveys will be administered through a Moodle smartphone application or web browser. You may skip any question you do not wish to answer.

Individual results will remain confidential and will not be shared outside the research team. Only aggregated data will be used for research purposes.

2.2 Monthly and Daily Surveys

Monthly and daily surveys help monitor mental health and provide feedback. These surveys are accessible via smartphone or web browser.

If results suggest support may be helpful, you will receive information on how to access services.

3. Potential Risks

Risks are minimal. Some questions may cause temporary discomfort. Support resources are listed below.

Surveys are not monitored in real time. You are responsible for seeking support if needed.

4. Potential Benefits

No direct benefits are guaranteed. Results will contribute to improved PSP mental health research and future supports.

5. Compensation

There is no compensation.

6. Confidentiality

All data is stored securely in Canada. No identifying information will be attached to survey data.

7. Other Privacy Precautions

Additional safeguards are in place to protect your confidentiality.

  • A privacy impact assessment was completed on all information gathering technology, and the Saskatchewan Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner was consulted in designing the original RCMP Study used to design the current study.
  • The study team members do not include PSP.
  • During the study, the data collected will be accessible only to the study team or a qualified independent researcher for auditing statistical assessments, but not available to PSP employers.
  • No member of the study team will attempt to compromise your confidentiality except as required by law and the legal limits to confidentiality.

8. Limits to Confidentiality

If evidence of a mental health disorder is flagged by the surveys, you will be notified and encouraged to access health resources through your PSP employer, your health care system, or a third-party provider; however, your mental health status will not be reported to your employer and you will not be compelled to access support.

In the event that a member of the research team becomes concerned that there is an imminent risk to your own safety or the safety of someone else, we may be legally required to contact you to ensure your own safety or that of others. We will attempt to discuss alternatives with you to ensure safety without compromising your confidentiality. If concerns persist, we will report to the relevant authority (e.g., emergency services, Ministry of Social Services).

9. Storage of Data during the Study

Data transferred between devices (e.g., phone to secured servers in Canada) is protected using Transport Layer Security (TLS). TLS ensures privacy and data integrity. A PKI Class 3 SSL Certificate with 2048-bit digital signature and 256-bit encryption is used.

Study data on servers in Canada are encrypted using server-side AES-256 before being saved to disk and decrypted before download.

Storage of Data After the Study is Over

All data, including the consent form, will be stored electronically for at least seven (7) years after the study concludes. Once no longer needed, electronic copies will be deleted securely.

Approximately one month after data collection and analysis (~3 years), participants will be notified that software access will be discontinued within five months. Participants may export their clinical information prior to discontinuation.

Anonymized data may be shared with researchers for verification or research purposes only. PSP employers and members will not have access to individual survey responses, except as noted in Limits to Confidentiality. Results will be published in aggregate form.

10. Further Use of Data

Responses may be used in future studies, presentations, and journal articles by current or future researchers, pending ethics approval. Data will be anonymized and securely stored on Canadian servers with MFA-enabled access.

11. Right to Withdraw

Participants may refuse to answer questions, change their mind, or leave the study at any time by completing the Exit Form on the web portal. Data removal requests will be honored within 30 days. Downloaded data is the participant’s responsibility.

12. Removal of Participants

Participants may be removed if they move away from a PSP employer in the study area or leave their PSP employer.

  • You move away from a PSP employer in the study area.
  • You leave your PSP employer and are no longer a PSP.

13. Follow up

A summary of study results will be available once data collection and analysis are complete (~3 years). For further information, contact the researcher.

14. Access to Research Results

Results will be available via the lab website, research conferences, peer-reviewed articles, and publicly-accessible formats. PSP leadership will be informed and encouraged to share results with all PSP.

15. Questions or Concerns

This study is approved by the University of Regina Research Board (File #2024-1093, Approved February 7, 2025). Email correspondence is not encrypted; use the subject-line “MHM Information.” Contact Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton at nick.carleton@uregina.ca or the Chair of the Research Ethics Board at (306) 585-4775 / research.ethics@uregina.ca.

Please consider printing a copy of this information form for your records.

Checking the yes box below indicates that you:

  • Have read and understand the description of the study provided.
  • Understand you can receive a copy of this Consent Form for your own records.
  • Agree not to share or disclose copyrighted material and/or other intellectual property (e.g., educational materials).
  • Consent to participate in the current study.

By continuing to submit surveys, participate in interviews, or use provided technology, ongoing free and informed consent is implied. A copy of this consent form is available in the web portal.