This petition asks the federal government to formally recognize the mental health risks faced by federal correctional officers and to create a dedicated support system giving them priority access to specialized mental health care.

Federal correctional officers play an essential role in public safety and in the course of their duties are regularly exposed to assault, threats, death, suicide, emergency interventions and other potentially traumatic events;

Repeated or cumulative exposure to these events can lead to operational stress injuries and have significant and lasting consequences on their mental health;

These injuries require early intervention as well as timely access to specialized professionals who understand the realities and risks specific to the corrections environment; and

Specialized and ongoing support promotes recovery and helps prevent severe psychological distress and suicide.

We, the undersigned,citizens and residents of Canada, call uponthe Government of Canadato: 1. Officially recognize the risks of operational stress injuries associated with the duties of federal correctional officers; 2. Establish a federal system to ensure that federal correctional officers suffering from operational stress injuries have timely, priority access to specialized operational mental health assessments, treatments and monitoring that are tailored to the corrections environment; and 3. Ensure access to specialized, multidisciplinary support and continuity of care for as long as the condition requires, including suicide prevention measures and interventions in situations of psychological distress.