We all have a role to play in helping those that help

In helping professions, it’s impossible to completely avoid exposure to trauma and hardship. However, there are tools and resources available to support recovery and prevent these experiences from developing into more serious mental health issues. Organizations must normalize ongoing, regular care for those who provide help to others. Without this, the negative impact of trauma can spill over into both their professional and personal lives. This responsibility isn’t just on the individual, it’s a shared/dual responsibility between employee and employer. We all play a role in supporting those who help others.

I learned that the peace I thought I was maintaining by staying silent wasn’t mine.  It was the organization’s, my former employer’s peace that I was protecting, not my own.  Support and care, cannot be reduced to a policy or by providing a mental health phone number, or by using pass-off statements, such as, “call your EAP.”  These are manufactured methods that do not aid those that are suffering from the impact of their work.  Healthy employers provide a deeper commitment to well-being. Mental health care is a process, not a one-time fix. It’s about resetting, regrouping, and continuous support over time, not a phone number or a one-time check in.  I recall being involved in files where children were harmed and when I returned to the office, I was met with more files on my desk.  I was never allowed or given permission to unpack what I had faced and when I would express concern about this painful experience, I was told to “call your EAP.”