May is a major calendar event for mental health workers and the larger community: Self-Care for Mental Health workers During Awareness Month Mental Health Awareness Month is set aside to help to remove stigma around mental health and promote a society of understanding and support. This month, we turn our attention inward to the people who support others in everyday navigation of difficult subjects such teen sexting, the effects of pornography on social media, and intimate partner violence.
The Importance of Self-Care for Mental Health Professionals
For those of us in the field of mental health, self-care is not just a buzzword; it’s a necessity. The occupational hazards of our work, including vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout, can take a significant toll on our wellbeing. As professionals, it’s crucial that we not only emphasize the importance of self-care to those we help but also actively engage in self-care practices ourselves.
Strategies for Self-Care
Safer Society hosts an on-demand training that focuses on strategies such as:
- Establishing boundaries
- Engaging in physical activities
- Identifying your self-care “non-negotiables”
- Using the STOP skill to stay calm under pressure:
- Stop: Pause for a moment, don’t react automatically
- Take a Break: Step away from the situation if needed, take a few deep breaths
- Observe: Notice what is happening in your body, your emotions, and your mind
- Proceed Mindfully: Consider your intention and values, then respond skillfully rather than simply react
- Ground yourself in gratitude by noticing the good in your life
By implementing such strategies, mental health professionals can effectively maintain a healthy work-life balance, ultimately enhancing their overall well-being and their ability to provide high-quality care to their clients.
Learn with Safer Society
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Safer Society has discounted its two most popular on-demand trainings on the topic of self-care for professionals. Now through the rest of the month, save $20 on your registration fee for the following trainings:
Click on the icons below to hear some snippets from the presenters of these two trainings:
Join us in taking actionable steps towards better mental health for ourselves and our communities. Every action counts—from forming a good mental health habit to helping a friend or relative to asking for our own direction. This month let’s be positive, practice compassion and patience, and—above all—show empathy toward others and ourselves. We may have a long-lasting effect on our own life as well as the life of people around us by including self-care and promoting understanding.