Staff care MODULE 19 objectives - PowerPoint Presentation

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Staff care

MODULE 19

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objectives

Build an understanding of the various types of traumatic stress and how they impact you.Gain awareness of the signs of burnout and vicarious trauma.

Understand how to utilize tools and methods for staff care and managing stress.

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Purpose – why talk about stress?

As humanitarian workers, we are often in high-pressure environments. We may also feel a high level of commitment to our work.

To be effective in our work to support others, we need to first take care of our own well-being.

This requires being aware of the stressors in our lives and how they affect us, and methods to prevent and respond

to their negative impacts

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What is stress?

Stress is a state of psychological and physical arousal that comes about as a result of a threat, challenge, or change in one’s environment (

Mitchell and Bray, 1990).

Day-to-Day Stress

Common to all people

Part of every day decision making and problem solving

Motivates people to be more productive

Managed routinely

Stress

is a

normal and natural responses

designed to protect, maintain, and enhance our lives.

It is usually a good thing!

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Adapted from Headington

Institute, 2008; Concern Worldwide, 2012Negative stress

Cumulative StressResult of prolonged, accumulated, unrelieved exposure to stressors

Critical Incident Stress

Caused by extraordinary events which provoke high level of stress in almost everyone involved

Vicarious Trauma

Result of witnessing or learning about others’ traumatic experiences that causes a reaction that mirrors that of the survivor

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Cumulative stress

Result

of prolonged, accumulated, unrelieved exposure to a variety of stressorsMost common form of stress experienced by humanitarian workers

When not recognized and managed,

leads to burnout

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Critical incidents stress

Caused by extraordinary events which provoke high level of stress in almost everyone involved

Sudden and disruptiveInvolves actual or perceived threat or loss

Causes sense of vulnerability

Disrupts sense of being in control and perception of world as safe and predictable

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Cumulative - Sources of stress

Internal:

characteristics of the worker that may lead to stressExternal: stressors related to working conditions; the organization and relationship within the organization; type of work and characteristics of clients

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Sources of stress activity

Individually, fill out the stress source map, using the handout of common sources as a guide. What do you see as the main stressors in your work?

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Vicarious or secondary trauma

Vicarious trauma, also called

secondary trauma or indirect traumatization

, is a process of change that happens when the worker begins to identify with the clients with whom s/he is working that results in changes in the worker’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are:

Parallel to those of trauma survivors

Generated from the experiences of clients

Transmitted from clients to workers

Over time, this can cause changes in your physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

It can lead to very high, and possibly unrealistic, expectations of yourself and others

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Burnout

A type of cumulative stress reaction that occurs after prolonged exposure to occupational stressors, such as those identified as sources of cumulative stress.

It is a process, not a single event. Occurs as prolonged exposure to emotionally demanding situations with inadequate support gradually depletes an individual’s own natural resources for dealing with stress and strain.

Like the signs of stress, signs of burnout can manifest in different ways depending on the individual.

Headington

Institute, 2008

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signs of stress & Trauma

There are many different signs of stress, and they manifest in many different ways depending on the characteristic of the person and the stressor.May be physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, or spiritual/philosophical.

May be immediate, or may be delayed.

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Activity:

Signs of stress & Trauma

Get into five groups. Each group will be assigned a different area where there may be a reaction to stress. As a group, brainstorm what reactions may be. Remember to think about both cumulative stress and critical incident stress.

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Activity:

Care & support

In small groups, discuss 1) what you can do to care for yourself, 2) what your team can do together for mutual care and support, and 3) what your organization/supervisor can do to support your well-being.

After

some time we will come back as a group to discuss.

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Self-care

A – Awareness – Be attuned to your needs, limits, emotions and resources. Practice self-acceptance. Look for early signs of secondary stress and trauma so you can focus on self-care to prevent further problems. Develop the habit of “checking yourself.”

B – Balance – Maintain a healthy balance among your activities. Balance work, family life, rest and leisure. Remind yourself that you deserve to have a meaningful and enjoyable life outside of work. C – Connection –

Maintain supportive relationships. Establish positive relationships with co-workers, friends and family to elicit support and avoid isolation. Communication with others breaks the silence of unacknowledged pain. Connections can also increase feelings of hope.

(

Adapted from: Reproductive Health Response in Crises Consortium, “Self-Care and Managing Stress”)

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Self-care Techniques

Physical

Emotional/RelationalSpiritualRegular

exercise

Nurturing relationships

Knowing your values/where you find

meaning in life

Sleep

Contact with home/friends

Participating in a community of meaning and purpose

Healthy eating

Talking

Regular times of prayer, reading, meditation

Drinking water

Ongoing support group

Spiritually meaningful conversations

Laughter

Reflection: journaling, writing, meditating, poetry

Singing or listening to spiritual music

Limiting alcohol

consumption

Movies, books, music

Contact with religious leaders

Therapeutic massage, sauna

Having balanced priorities

Time with art, nature or music

Repetitive

activities

Understand traumatic stress and having realistic expectations

Solitude

Counseling

Headington

Institute, 2008

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Guidelines for personal action in reducing effects of vicarious trauma

1. Acknowledge and respect the value and danger of indirect trauma responses in yourself and others.2. Do not think that you can do trauma work all alone, or assume that anyone else can.3. Be aware that your feelings and reactions related to trauma work are important clinical data, as are those of others.

4. As the well-being of clients is connected to the well-being of their care workers, be aware that you are always a model and that you never work alone.5. The helping process is an endless creative process; do not assume that what you or others have previously learned will work the next time.6. Strive to create a professional community that recognises these guidelines, and promote support and self-care for care providers.

Admira

Foundation, 2005

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Activity:

Self care

Individually, complete the self-care inventory. This will help you think about your own level of self-care and how you can improve your own well-being.

Identify 2-3 items that you will try to incorporate in the next month to improve your own self-care practices.

After

some time, we will come back together as a group.

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Team care & support

Regular recreational/team support activities structured into work-plans

Rotating responsibility for planning activities. Well-being buddies

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Tips for supporting staff

UNHCR, 2001

Everyday Care

Support for Critical

Events

Create a

Supportive Climate

Watch for:

suffering in silence and keeping a stiff upper lip

Establish Routines

Accommodate the Staff

Manage Information

Arrange for Defusing

Monitor Health and Well-being

Providing

psychological interventions

Attend to Nutrition

Monitor Alcohol Consumption

Provide

Exercise Opportunities

Monitor Stress Levels

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Putting it All together - Activity

In

small groups, discuss a case study of a colleague. Based on what you’ve learned today, as a group, identify

U

sing

the ABC framework and self-care techniques, identify what you can do to support your colleague, what your supervisors can do to support your colleague, and what you may recommend your colleague do to reduce stress and promote their own wellbeing.

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closing

QUESTIONS?

CONCERNS?

REFLECTIONS?