The below BOS Program Research Consent, will be presented to all participants to be signed prior to starting the program.
Updated March 2022
Research:
All individuals enrolled in the BOS program will have the opportunity to participate in a research study independently evaluating the program. The research study is being conducted by researchers at the Canadian Institute of Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT). Participation in this research study is voluntary and is not a requirement of your continuation in the BOS program. Declining to participate will not impact your ability to seek psychological support from Wayfound Mental Health Group or another psychologist of your choice. No Wayfound Mental Health Group personnel or BOS clinicians are part of the research team and will not know of your participation status. By enrolling in the BOS program you consent to being contacted by a member of the CIPSRT research team with information on how to participate in the research study, should you choose to do so.
Before Operational Stress (BOS): BOS Online, What to Expect:
Brief Overview of the BOS Online
The BOS Online program is a psycho-educational program for first responders and healthcare workers who may be at risk for experiencing Operational stress injuries, including Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS). The series will take place over the course over eight pre-recorded modules. The modules will introduce participants to the fundamentals of understanding potential PTS reactions (PTSRs), in others and themselves, and how to recognize and cope with their effects. Participants will access the material online at complete on their own time.
Risks and Benefits
There are risks and benefits to participating in the BOS program. While the focus of the BOS Online program is primarily learning, participants may recall unpleasant events which may arouse strong and/or unanticipated feelings. The BOS Online program is not a psychological intervention or treatment program, however if these feeling arise, please access your local mental health resources. Benefits of participating in the BOS Online program may be an increased knowledge of and ability to cope with effects of PTSRs. Participants may also gain a better understanding of themselves, and their goals and values, which will assist them in their personal, relationship and career growth.
Confidentiality
We consider any information you provide to be confidential. No information will be released to any third party without your prior written authorization to release such information. However, there are situations where we are legally required to release personal information. Specifically, if you reveal information that indicates a clear and immediate danger of harm to yourself or others, or that a youth under age 16 or an elderly person in a long-term care facility may be in need of protection, the facilitators will need to breach confidentiality. Registered psychologists are required to release records if mandated by a court order. Suspected sexual abuse by a regulated health care professional is required to be reported to that professional’s regulating College.
Your Responsibilities
Personal commitment to the BOS Online program is essential for success. It is important that each individual be active, open and honest with themselves while engaging with the online content. If an individual is not committed to participating to the fullest extent possible, BOS may not be as effective as it is for those who are present and engaged with the material. Participating in the BOS Online program will be enhanced with additional efforts made throughout the program. This effort can include thinking about the material covered during BOS, monitoring the behaviours you are trying to change, or working on specific skills learned in the program and seeking further counselling for PTS.
Fees
While there is a cost to attend the BOS Online program, payment has been organized under the current research grant funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada, so that participation in the program does not come at a cost to you.
BOS Online Program Objectives
The objectives of the BOS Online program are to: (1) Assist the individuals in understanding the potential impact of Operational stress on their lives in an online environment; (2) Provide participants with a self-led learning experience that focuses on psychoeducation, training and practice of skills for coping with Operational stress; and (3) If needed, provide referrals to clinical services.
BOS Online Program Membership Criteria
The BOS Online program is most suitable for individuals who (1) are interested in examining the impact of operational stress; (2) are interested in acquiring knowledge, practicing and developing skills for dealing with the effects of operational stress; (3) are willing and able to participate in a program in an online learning platform;
BOS is not suitable for individuals who
(1) for whatever reason, are unable to attend most sessions and be psychologically present; (2) are actively suicidal or homicidal, or who have been actively suicidal or homicidal in the last six months without professional support and/or intervention; (3) who are currently or recently experiencing untreated symptoms of psychosis (e.g. voices, paranoia).
Before Operational Stress (BOS): BOS Peer, What to Expect:
Brief Overview of the BOS Peer
The BOS Peer program is a psycho-educational program for first responders and healthcare workers who may be at risk for experiencing Operational stress injuries, including Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS). The series will take place over the course over eight modules, one hour per week for eight weeks. The modules will introduce participants to the fundamentals of understanding potential PTS reactions (PTSRs), in others and themselves, and how to recognize and cope with their effects. Participants will go through each class with the same cohort.
Risks and Benefits
There are risks and benefits to participating in the BOS program. While the focus of the BOS Peer Program is primarily learning, there may be some sharing about PTS or participants may recall unpleasant events which may arouse strong and/or unanticipated feelings. The BOS Peer Program is not a psychological intervention or treatment program, however if these feeling arise, please notify your instructor and resources for further help will be provided. Benefits of participating in the BOS Peer Program may be an increased knowledge of and ability to cope with effects of PTSRs. Participants may also gain a better understanding of themselves, and their goals and values, which will assist them in their personal, relationship and career growth.
Confidentiality
We consider any information you discuss or provide to be confidential. No information will be released to any third party without your prior written authorization to release such information. However, there are situations where we are legally required to release personal information. Specifically, if you reveal information that indicates a clear and immediate danger of harm to yourself or others, or that a youth under age 16 or an elderly person in a long-term care facility may be in need of protection, the facilitators will need to breach confidentiality. Registered psychologists are required to release records if mandated by a court order. Suspected sexual abuse by a regulated health care professional is required to be reported to that professional’s regulating College. Finally, while the BOS facilitators are ethically and legally bound to maintain participant confidentiality, your fellow BOS Peer program participants are not bound by the same ethical and legal guidelines. While we ask that everyone maintain the confidentiality of all participants, the facilitators cannot guarantee that participants will adhere to this request should you share personal information over the course of the program.
Your Responsibilities
Personal commitment to the BOS Peer Program is essential for success. It is important that each individual be active, open and honest with themselves and with the BOS facilitators. If an individual is not committed to participating to the fullest extent possible, BOS may not be as effective as it is for those who are present and engaged during the classes. Participating in the BOS Peer Program will be enhanced with additional efforts made throughout the program. This effort can include thinking about the material covered during BOS, monitoring the behaviours you are trying to change, or working on specific skills learned in the program and seeking further counselling for PTS.
Fees
While there is a cost to attend the BOS Peer program, payment has been organized under the current research grant funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada, so that participation in the program does not come at a cost to you.
BOS Peer Program Objectives
The objectives of the BOS Peer Program are to: (1) Assist the individuals in understanding the potential impact of Operational stress on their lives in a supportive, professionally-facilitated environment; (2) Provide participants with a cohort learning experience that focuses on psychoeducation, training and practice of skills for coping with Operational stress; (3) Help to understand the importance of and foster peer support; and (4) If needed, provide referrals to clinical services.
BOS Peer Program Membership Criteria
The BOS Peer Program is most suitable for individuals who (1) are interested in examining the impact of operational stress; (2) are interested in acquiring knowledge, practicing and developing skills for dealing with the effects of operational stress; (3) are willing and able to participate in a program in which other participants may discuss and/or hear some of their challenges in dealing with operational stress;
BOS Peer is not suitable for individuals who:
(1) for whatever reason, are unable to attend most sessions and be psychologically present with other students; (2) for whatever reason, are unwilling and/or unable to be active and respectful members in a learning environment; (3) are actively suicidal or homicidal, or who have been actively suicidal or homicidal in the last six months without professional support and/or intervention; (4) who are currently or recently experiencing untreated symptoms of psychosis (e.g. voices, paranoia).
Before Operational Stress (BOS): BOS Intensive, What to Expect:
Brief Overview of BOS Intensive
The BOS Intensive program is a group-based, psycho-educational and therapy program for current and former first responders and healthcare workers at all stages in their careers who may be at risk for experiencing operational stress injuries, including Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS). You will get the most out of BOS Intensive if every participant is both willing and able to engage in open discussions about their reactions in a group setting and listen to other members’ reactions.
The BOS Intensive program will take place over eight weeks, two hours per week, and will introduce participants to the fundamentals of understanding potential PTS reactions (PTSRs), in others and themselves, and how to recognize and cope with their effects.
Confidentiality
The standards of practice for psychologists across Canada are to consider the personal information you discuss to be confidential. No information will be released to any third party without your prior written authorization to release such information. However, there are situations where psychologists are legally required to release personal information. Specifically, if you reveal information that indicates a clear and immediate danger of harm to yourself or others, or that a youth under age 16 or an elderly person in a long-term care facility may be in need of protection, the facilitators will need to breach confidentiality. Registered psychologists are required to release records if mandated by a court order. Suspected sexual abuse by a regulated health care professional is required to be reported to that professional’s regulating College. Also, while the BOS co-facilitators are ethically and legally bound to maintain participant confidentiality, your fellow group members are not so bound. While we ask that everyone maintain the confidentiality of the group, the facilitators cannot guarantee that group members will adhere to this request.
Risks and Benefits
There are risks and benefits to participating in the BOS Intensive program. While the focus of BOS Intensive is primarily learning and sharing about PTS, participants may recall unpleasant events which may arouse strong and/or unanticipated feelings. Listening to other participants may trigger and/or intensify symptoms of PTSR’s. Benefits of participating in the BOS Intensive program may be an increased knowledge of and ability to cope with effects of PTSR’s in one’s life. Participants may also gain a better understanding of themselves, and their goals and values, which will assist them in their personal, relationship and career growth. You may also experience a decrease in a sense of shame and isolation, due to the group-based nature of the BOS Intensive program.
Your Responsibilities
Personal commitment to the BOS Intensive program is essential for success. It is important that each individual be active, open and honest with themselves and the BOS facilitators. If an individual is not committed to participating to the fullest extent possible, BOS Intensive may not be effective and it may be detrimental to the group process. Participating in BOS Intensive will be enhanced with additional efforts made throughout the program. This effort can include thinking about the material covered during BOS, monitoring the behaviours you are trying to change, or working on specific skills learned in the program and seeking further counselling for PTS.
Fees
While there is a cost to attend the BOS Intensive program, payment has been organized under the current research grant funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada, so that participation in the program does not come at a cost to you.
BOS Intensive Program Objectives:
The objectives of the BOS Intensive program are to: (1) Assist the individuals in understanding the potential impact of operational stress on their lives in a supportive, professionally-facilitated environment; (2) Provide participants with a group-based learning experience that focuses on psychoeducation, training and practice of skills for dealing with operational stress; (3) Help to understand the importance of and foster peer support; and (4) If needed, provide referrals to clinical services.
BOS Intensive Program Membership Criteria:
The BOS Intensive program is most suitable for first responders and healthcare workers who (1) are interested and able in participating in a structured group therapy experience and examining the impact that operational stress can have. (2) are interested in acquiring knowledge, practicing and developing skills for dealing with the effects of operational stress. (3) are willing and able to participate in a program with other group members discussing and/or hearing their challenges in dealing with operational stress. (4) are both willing and able to support their fellow group members in achieving their goals during the program. (5) are willing and able to speak to their experiences of operational stress in a group setting.
BOS Intensive is not suitable for individuals who:
(1) for whatever reason, are unable to attend most sessions and be psychologically present in a group with other members. (2) for whatever reason, are unwilling and/or unable to be active and respectful members in a group-based learning environment. (3) are actively suicidal or homicidal, or who have been actively suicidal or homicidal in the last six months without professional support and/or intervention. (4) who are currently or recently experiencing untreated symptoms of psychosis (e.g. voices, paranoia).
