Understanding Anxiety & Depression in Public Safety Personnel and Supporting Recovery

Although these professions are built on resilience and service, they are not immune to mental health struggles. In fact, recent Canadian data shows that PSPare up to four times more likely than the general population to screen positive for one or more mental health disorders, including major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder (Carleton et al., 2018). 

Understanding how anxiety and depression show up in PSP, and how to effectively manage them, is essential not just for individual well-being, but also for family well-being, occupational safety, and long-term career sustainability. 

What is Anxiety & Depression? 

Anxiety is an emotional and physiological response to perceived threat or danger, and it is a normal part of human experience. However, anxiety disorders involve persistent, severe, or significant anxiety that cause the individual distress and interfere in their ability to function at work, socially, or at home. There are different types of anxiety disorders, the most common are general anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. Anxiety symptoms can also be a feature of other mental health conditions including PTSD.  

Depression is an emotional and physiological response characterized by low mood and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities that were previously enjoyable (anhedonia). There are different types of depressive disorders and depressive symptoms/episode can be a feature of other mental health conditions including PTSD and Bipolar Disorder. The most common type of depressive disorder is Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), which includes low moods and anhedonia, as well as a constellation of other symptoms such as cognitive impairments (difficultly concentrating or making decisions), sleep disturbances (sleeping too much or not enough), changes in appetite and/or eating habits, fatigue and low energy, restlessness or sluggishness, feelings of worthless and/or inappropriate levels of guilt, and there can be thoughts of death, suicidal, and/or suicide attempts.   

Lastly, depression and anxiety disorders frequently co-occur, meaning you could have symptoms of one or both mental health concerns (Kalin, 2020). 

If you have questions about if you or a loved one has depression and/or anxiety, ask your family doctor for a referral, and/or seek an assessment from a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist.  

Key Tip: Specific measures such as the GAD-7 or PHQ-9 can screen for general anxiety disorder or major depressive disorder. While these are not diagnoses, these measures can give you an idea of if you may be experiencing symptoms of these disorders.  

How do I recognize Anxiety & Depression in PSP? 

Anxiety in PSP may present as chronic worry, hypervigilance, difficulty relaxing, physical tension, gastrointestinal issues, and panic symptoms. These symptoms often intensify after prolonged exposure to traumatic events, uncertainty, or cumulative occupational stress. 

Depression can manifest as persistent low mood, emotional numbness, irritability, sleep disturbance, loss of interest in activities (including the job), hopelessness, fatigue, and suicidal thoughts. In PSP, depression is often masked by over-functioning or emotional detachment. 

Why PSP Are More at Risk? 

There are many reasons why PSP are more likely to screen positive for one or more mental health concerns (Carleton et al., 2018). Some of the factors that leave PSP more vulnerable may include: 

• Regular exposure to trauma (e.g., fatalities, assaults, mass casualty events) 

• Shift work and disrupted circadian rhythms 

• Organizational stress (e.g., resource shortages, policy changes, lack of support) 

• Stigma and a "tough it out" culture that discourages help-seeking 

• Ethical dilemmas or moral injury (when actions on the job violate personal values) 

Core Strategies for Managing Anxiety & Depression 

1. Normalize and Name the Experience 

Mental health challenges are not a weakness. They are human responses to prolonged, high-pressure stress. As Dr. Dan Siegel (2014) documented in his research, simply identifying and naming our emotions can reduce our stress response (CITE). When we deny, disregard, minimize or even criticize ourselves for suffering it only amplifies the experience and increases our shame and unhelpful coping (i.e. substance use, withdrawal from others, anger/aggressive behaviors)  
Education and psychoeducation can help reduce shame and stigma. 
Encourage language that validates rather than pathologizes with others and yourself (e.g., “you’re adapting to a high-stress load” vs. “you’re breaking down” or “I’m going through a tough time right now, anyone would be struggling” vs. “what’s wrong with me, I should be able to handle this”). 

2. Build a Resilience Toolkit 

Kalin, N. H. (2020). The Critical Relationship Between Anxiety and Depression. American Journal of Psychiatry, 177(5), 365–367. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20030305 

4. Regehr, C., & LeBlanc, V. R. (2017). PTSD, Acute Stress, Performance and Decision-Making in Emergency Service Workers. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 45(2), 184–192. 

Dalai Lama Centre for Peace and Education. (2014, Dec 8). Dan Siegel: Name it To Tame it [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcDLzppD4Jc