FAQ

PSPNET is a free online mental health program for Public Safety Personnel (PSP) provided by the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT) at the University of Regina. The team delivers free internet-delivered therapy programs, and conducts research on various aspects of ICBT for(PSP) in Canada.

We offer four programs.

• The PSP Wellbeing Course is appropriate for clients who experience diverse mental health concerns (includes preventative or more severe symptoms).
• The PSP PTSD Course is more specific to clients who are primarily concerned with symptoms of post-traumatic stress (no diagnosis required).
• The Sleep Course is our shortest course and provides evidence-based solutions to real sleep challenges commonly faced by PSP.
• The Spouse or Significant Other Course helps current or former spouses or significant others of PSP learn simple but effective strategies to improve diverse mental health concerns.

ICBT (Internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) delivers the same treatment content as traditional face-to-face CBT through a free online platform over a 6 to 8 week timeframe. It helps people understand how thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are interconnected, and provides effective strategies for managing symptoms independently. The strategies are taught progressively, with each lesson building on previously learned skills.

Research demonstrates that ICBT is highly effective, producing results comparable to in-person therapy.

Typically, clients complete one lesson every 1 to 2 weeks, which includes text, graphics, and videos. At the end of each lesson, assigned tasks are provided to practice and reinforce the strategies learned.

ICBT can be delivered with therapist support via secure emails or completed independently as a self-guided program.

Step 1 — Read about the Courses

These are the courses currently being offered. Please note that some courses are only available in specific provinces.

Available to residents of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan:

• The PSP-Wellbeing Course (English and French)
• PSP PTSD Course (English and French)
• The Sleep Course (English only currently)

If you are interested in ICBT and signing up for one our Courses, follow the “Account Signup” link provided under the “Courses” or the “My Account” tab.

Note: We also have some capacity to support public safety personnel in Alberta, contact us at pspnet@uregina.ca to confirm your interest, and we can advise of availability.

Available Canada-Wide in Both English and French:

• Self-Guided PSP Wellbeing Course
• Self-Guided Spouse or Significant (SSO) Course

Step 2 — Complete a screening

Before you begin, we want to ensure that this type of therapy is a good fit for you. To do this, it is necessary for us to understand what you are experiencing.

Online Screening (For all our courses)
You will be asked for your contact information and to answer questionnaires about your symptoms. This should take approximately 20 minutes.

For clients interested in our therapist-guided Wellbeing or PTSD Course:

1. Complete your online screening and book a 20-30 min call with a therapist.
2. During the call, the therapist will review your responses, confirm your eligibility, and help determine if the course is a good fit for you.
3. If eligible, you’ll choose a start date for the Course (as early as the next day)!

For clients interested in our Sleep Course, Self-Guided Wellbeing Course or Spouse or Significant Other Course:

1. Complete your online screening.
2. A team member will review your responses, and you will receive an email confirming your eligibility for the Course of your choice within 2-3 business days.
3. Start your Course!

If you are interested in signing up today for ICBT, follow the “Account Signup” link provided under the “Courses” or the “My Account” tab.

If you have questions, you can also call the PSPNET office at 306-337-7233 (SAFE) or toll free at 1-833-317-7233 (SAFE).

We are committed to providing high-quality service and supporting you in managing various mental health symptoms. Before applying, please ensure you are ready to take on the following responsibilities:

• Carefully read all emails.
• Complete questionnaires within 48 hours of receipt.
• Ensure you have a functioning computer and reliable internet connection.
• Commit to working on the course and challenging yourself with new strategies consistently for 8 weeks.

• ICBT requires perseverance, determination, and commitment.
• Expect to invest time in understanding your mental health and applying structured strategies.
• It’s similar to a workout routine, where small effort brings significant rewards.
• You’ll spend 1-2 hours per week reviewing materials and completing assignments.

Some clients read everything at once, while others pace themselves. Flexibility is offered to accommodate busy schedules.

• Completing homework assignments (Do-It-Yourself Activities) is highly recommended for effective results.
• Over 80% of clients complete ICBT materials within 8 weeks.
• With consistent practice, ICBT helps build a strong foundation for long-term success and symptom management.

ICBT offers several advantages, including:

• No need to schedule appointments
• Avoiding office visits if transportation, time, or privacy are concerns
• Greater control over the pace of therapy
• Accessing materials anytime, anywhere
• Ability to print materials
• Secure messaging with your therapist
• Access to services at no cost to you as a current or former PSP

Support depends on the course you choose.

The PSP Wellbeing Course, PSP PTSD Course, and PSP Sleep Course offer therapist support, based on your preferences.

Options for support include optional therapist support (when requested) or weekly check-ins by phone or email

• Therapists are available via secure online messaging for questions and may call if clinically beneficial.
• Support includes encouragement and help applying course techniques, with contact length based on your needs.

The Self-Guided PSP Wellbeing Course and the PSP Spouse or Significant Other Wellbeing Course are self-guided with no therapist support.

Research shows that ICBT with therapist support achieves similar results to face-to-face therapy. PSPNET therapists use various methods, such as regular questionnaires, secure email, and phone check-ins, to assess your progress. Our therapists are trained and supervised in delivering ICBT to PSP, and clients consistently report high satisfaction with the support they receive.

ICBT is well-suited for PSP seeking education and early prevention of mental health concerns, as well as those with mild to significant symptoms. It’s effective for individuals experiencing:

• A range of symptoms, from mild to severe
• Issues like anxiety, worry, social phobia, panic, depression, and PTSD
• Life challenges such as work, relationship, financial, or health problems
• Ongoing symptoms or those triggered by recent trauma

It may be appropriate if your therapist suggests it as a supplement to your current treatment, or while waiting for other services.

Research shows that ICBT is effective for individuals with mild, moderate, and severe mental health concerns. Before starting, you will complete screenings to ensure the course is a good fit. However, ICBT may not be suitable for individuals with certain conditions, such as daily, intrusive thoughts of harming oneself or others, recent harm, life-threatening situations, delusions or hallucinations, or substance use concerns. In these cases, immediate in-person support is recommended.

Throughout ICBT, your therapist will monitor your progress via questionnaires, secure emails, and or calls. If significant changes in your symptoms are noted, your therapist will recommend and assist you in accessing appropriate services in your area.

ICBT is based on research with thousands of clients in Australia and Canada, and has now been studied with thousands of PSP as well. PSPNET has adapted the treatment materials to better meet the needs of PSP. We gather your feedback throughout the course to continuously improve our services. If unique needs arise, our team is dedicated to addressing your concerns with care and support. PSPNET staff are committed to working with first responders and PSP.

ICBT is provided through the PSPNET website, hosted and maintained by the University of Regina. All information shared with therapists is encrypted using secure socket layer (SSL) technology, similar to online banking. Messages are securely sent and stored on our encrypted server.

Your participation is confidential and only members of the PSPNET research team have access to information. However, there are some circumstances when we may need to break confidentiality, such as when there is:

1. potential, imminent harm to you or others;
2. suspected neglect or harm to a child, including the witnessing of violence;
3. a court order to release information; or
4. where required by legislation.

PSPNET conducts and contributes to research. When your information is used for these purposes, it is de-identified to ensure your privacy. This means your information will be analyzed and presented in a way that prevents identification.

For your security, follow these guidelines:

1. Use your personal computer instead of a shared device (e.g., library or office).
2. Never share your login information, and choose a strong, unique password. PSPNET staff will never ask for your password.
3. If you are ever asked for your password, contact us immediately to report it.
4. Always log out after finishing your work on the website, and before leaving your computer.
5. Enable “privacy” mode in your browser to prevent saving your interactions to history.
6. Use a firewall to protect your computer and data, either through built-in software (e.g., Windows firewall) or trusted third-party software like ZoneAlarm.
7. Install reputable anti-virus software to protect against threats. Free options are available, but ensure they are from trusted sources.
8. Use malware detection software (e.g., Spybot or Microsoft Security Essentials) to scan for potential threats.
9. If using a shared computer, ensure that the security software is installed and updated.

Our website is user-friendly and easy to navigate, requiring no advanced computer skills. If you experience any technical difficulties, feel free to call or email us for assistance.

To get the most out of ICBT, we recommend starting the course when you can commit to working through it consistently each week, as it is time-restricted (usually 8-12 weeks). If something unexpected arises after starting (or if you have a planned extended vacation), please message your therapist with details on how long you’ll be away and when you plan to return.

While we hope you will complete the full ICBT program, we understand that it may not be the right fit for everyone. If you choose to withdraw, you may do so at any time without consequence. We appreciate your feedback to help us improve ICBT for PSP, and identify areas for enhancement.

If you would like posters to distribute to your organization please contact us at pspnet@uregina.ca.

You can download brief handouts about our services here. Feel free to email the handouts to anyone you think might be interested in learning more about PSPNET.

PSPNET team members are also often available to present on PSPNET either in person or via webinars.

Our team is funded until 2028; we are working on a long-term sustainability plan.

The purpose of the research is to understand how PSP engage with ICBT, the level of therapist support they require, and how ICBT impacts symptoms and functioning over time. We also aim to identify the strengths and weaknesses of ICBT. This research will help improve ICBT for PSP. We are studying four ICBT courses: the PSP Wellbeing Course, the PSP PTSD Course, the SSO Course and most recently, the Sleep Course.

Here are some common issues users may encounter.