Supporting those who serve: FACETS launches new public safety research subject

From natural disasters to public health emergencies, we rely on public safety personnel to protect us in our most vulnerable moments, but who’s protecting them? We’re excited to announce that FACETS is launching a new subject area dedicated to public safety—a rapidly growing and increasingly important area of interdisciplinary research. Public safety personnel, from firefighters and paramedics to correctional officers and police, face complex challenges that span physical, psychological, organizational, and societal dimensions. While each sector has its own unique context and demands, there are also powerful opportunities to learn from one another’s experiences and research advancements. 

Leading this new initiative in FACETS is Dr. Nick Carleton, FACETS Senior Editor, Professor of Clinical Psychology, and registered clinical psychologist at the University of Regina. Dr. Carleton has been among the forefront leaders of public safety research in Canada and brings deep expertise in understanding the mental health and operational realities of public safety personnel. This new journal subject aims to bring together a diverse community of researchers, practitioners, and professionals to share knowledge, drive innovation, and collectively improve outcomes for those who serve and protect. 

Dr. Carleton’s journey into public safety research began in the aftermath of 9/11, during the early days of his honours program. Watching first responders run into danger as others fled left a lasting impression. He was struck by how deeply we rely on public safety personnel in moments of crisis. “That idea of somebody running into a situation where everyone else is running out—that left a lasting impact,” he recalls. “It was probably the first moment I really started to think about how much we ask of our public safety personnel, and how we only think about them when something goes wrong.” 

As he met more members of this community, he realized many were quietly facing significant mental health challenges. It wasn’t until around 2016 that the scope of these issues began to come into clearer focus, and even now, there’s still a long way to go. 

During his clinical residency, Dr. Carleton worked closely with uniformed personnel, often encountering the same kinds of psychological trauma and psychological injuries he had seen in military veterans. He began to draw connections across different public safety roles—paramedics, police, firefighters—and was continually inspired by their courage. Yet, he emphasizes that despite the “hero” label often attached to them, these individuals are not indestructible; they are human, and they too are harmed in their efforts to protect others. “They’re humans doing superhuman things,” he says. “They depend on the rest of us to have their backs. We need to remember they are real people and not take them for granted.”

Turning research into action 

Research in this field has a direct impact on the lives of public safety personnel through evidence-based solutions, leading to safer communities. Research by Dr. Carleton, his teams, and his many colleagues has already influenced policy, including contributions to Canada’s national framework on post traumatic stress disorder and the National Action Plan on post traumatic stress injuries. This is a clear example of how collective research can drive real change.  

And what’s the best way to ensure that research findings are accessible and actionable for policymakers and practitioners? Dr. Carleton emphasizes that one of the best ways to do this is by publishing research in open access journals and, where possible, creating shared data repositories—provided that participant anonymity or, at minimum, confidentiality can be maintained depending on the study. Knowledge mobilization tools like plain-language summaries, podcasts, videos, e-mail, and social media are also key. “We need a lot of different channels working together to make sure that policymakers and practitioners are getting the content they need,” says Dr. Carleton.

Public safety research has been growing rapidly in the last eight years as a result of different groups and different people becoming interested in recognizing the challenges and the opportunities to do better. Public safety research sits at an interdisciplinary intersection. As Dr. Carleton explains, “It’s not just about psychology or biology, or sociology or criminology, but rather all of them and more. It’s multidisciplinary research that doesn’t fit well into any of the existing traditional research spaces.” Finding a suitable home for this research is still difficult.  

That’s why creating a dedicated space in FACETS, an open access interdisciplinary journal, is so important. The new FACETS subject will publish research on trauma, multiple re-exposures to potentially psychologically traumatic events, biopsychosocial research, organizational challenges, policy adaptations, physical health impacts, and effects on families and leaders. Alongside its launch, FACETS has issued a call for papers for a collection titled “Public Safety Personnel Health and Wellbeing”. The goal? To create a hub for up-to-date, cross-sector information to guide stakeholders and policy makers and fast-track solutions for those on the front lines.  

By creating a space for research community members to come together, there’s an opportunity for cross pollination and real synergies that can support rapid advancements. 

Those advancements can’t come fast enough. In addition to the toll on individual workers, Dr. Carleton is deeply concerned about the ripple effects of understaffing, long hours, and inadequate support. “One paramedic agency celebrated when their staff were finally allowed bathroom breaks every 12 hours instead of 14,” he recalls. “That’s not something we should be celebrating—that’s a sign of how far we still have to go.” 

The power of community 

As a member of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Dr. Nick Carleton underscores the impact of collaboration. The Royal Society of Canada brings together a diverse community of academics that allow for innovations and intersections that wouldn’t happen in any other way. To solve complex problems around health and wellbeing, we need diverse skills—psychologists, engineers, cardiologists, software specialists, and statisticians. The RSC creates a community of expertise that can tackle big challenges and bring real solutions forward. 

For researchers who want to work more closely with public safety personnel, Dr. Carleton offers this advice: “Be really open and take a lot of humility with you. Get to know the community by embracing your curiosity. Ask them what challenges they’re facing and what you can do to help. Recognize that they’re bringing extraordinary amounts of expertise that most of us have no way to get. Keep them included, thank them for the contributions that they’re making, and always take their feedback seriously.” Building strong partnerships is key to making community driven research more successful.  

Public safety personnel are humans doing superhuman things. We need to remember they are real people and not take them for granted. They support us every day, and they deserve our support in return.