title: An integrated workplace mental health intervention in a policing context: Protocol for a cluster randomised control trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this paper, we present the protocol for a cluster-randomised trial to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of a workplace mental health intervention in the state-wide police department of the south-eastern Australian state of Victoria. n. The primary aims of the intervention are to improve psychosocial working conditions and mental health literacy, and secondarily to improve mental health and organisational outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention was designed collaboratively with Victoria Police based on a mixed methods pilot study, and combines multi-session leadership coaching for the senior officers within stations (e.g., Sergeants, Senior Sergeants) with tailored mental health literacy training for lower and upper ranks. Intervention effectiveness will be evaluated using a two-arm cluster-randomised trial design, with 12 police stations randomly assigned to the intervention and 12 to the non-intervention/usual care control condition. Data will be collected from all police members in each station (estimated at >20 per station). Psychosocial working conditions (e.g., supervisory support, job control, job demands), mental health literacy (e.g., knowledge, confidence in assisting someone who may have a mental health problem), and mental health will be assessed using validated measures. Organisational outcomes will include organisational depression disclosure norms, organisational cynicism, and station-level sickness absence rates. The trial will be conducted following CONSORT guidelines. Identifying data will not be collected in order to protect participant privacy and to optimise participation, hence changes in primary and secondary outcomes will be assessed using a two-sample t-test comparing summary measures by arm, with weighting by cluster size.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This intervention is novel in its integration of stressor-reduction and mental health literacy-enhancing strategies. Effectiveness will be rigorously evaluated, and if positive results are observed, the intervention will be adapted across Victoria Police (total employees ~16,500) as well as possibly in other policing contexts, both nationally and internationally.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Current Controlled Trials: ISRCTN82041334. Registered 24th July, 2014.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health & Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia. tony.lamontagne@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Anthony D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: LaMontagne
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health & Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia. allison.milner@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Allison J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Milner
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Business and Law, Deakin Business School, Deakin University, Geelong, 3220, VIC, Australia. amanda.allisey@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Amanda F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Allisey
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health & Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia. k.page@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kathryn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Page
authors.affiliation: Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. nreavley@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Nicola J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Reavley
authors.affiliation: Tasmanian School of Business and Economics, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay Campus, Hobart, TAS, Australia. Angela.Martin@utas.edu.au.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health & Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia. irina.tchernitskaia@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tchernitskaia
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Business and Law, Deakin Business School, Deakin University, Geelong, 3220, VIC, Australia. andrew.noblet@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Noblet
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health & Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia. lauren.purnell@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lauren J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Purnell
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health & Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia. katrina.witt@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Witt
authors.affiliation: College of Science, Health and Engineering, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. T.Keegel@latrobe.edu.au.
authors.forename: Tessa G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Keegel
authors.affiliation: Monash Centre for Occupational & Environmental Health, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Alfred Hospital, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. peter.smith@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003866:Depressive Disorder; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012107:Research Design; D014739:Victoria; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration*