Outcomes of Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Tailored for Canadian Public Safety Personnel Among Indigenous and White Clients

Indigenous Peoples and public safety personnel are two groups that report very high rates of mental health challenges. Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy is an effective treatment for various mental health challenges with promising results among Indigenous clients and public safety personnel. However, research on the mental health of Indigenous public safety personnel and the treatment of mental health challenges among Indigenous public safety personnel is extremely scarce. In the current study—using questionnaire responses and program usage data—we compared outcomes of internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (i.e., symptom change, program use, and treatment satisfaction) among 35 Indigenous and 356 White public safety personnel in Canada (N = 391) to assess whether Indigenous public safety personnel benefit similarly to White public safety personnel from internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy. Data analyses included multiple imputation, chi-square analyses, independent-samples t-tests, and ANCOVAs for various outcomes. We also present several illustrative quotes from Indigenous clients. Our results show elevated pre-treatment symptoms among Indigenous public safety personnel but no differences between ethnic groups with respect to symptom change, program use, or treatment satisfaction. Our findings provide preliminary evidence that internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy can be effective among Indigenous public safety personnel. However, we discuss several important caveats, limitations, and considerations for future efforts to develop, adapt, deliver, and evaluate psychological interventions for Indigenous public safety personnel and other Indigenous populations.