Mental health strategies—For you & your team
By Shauna Kapsner | February 23, 2024 | All members
Resilience strategies for healthcare workers
Healthcare workers often face high levels of stress and challenging situations, which can take a toll on their mental and emotional well-being. Building resilience is crucial for maintaining mental health in such demanding environments. Here are some resilience techniques for healthcare workers:
- Self-care
- Prioritize sleep, nutrition, and regular exercise to maintain physical health
- Schedule regular breaks and days off to recharge
- Engage in activities that bring joy and relaxation outside of work
- Mindfulness and meditation
- Practice mindfulness and meditation to stay present and reduce stress
- Deep breathing exercises can help manage anxiety and promote relaxation
- Seek social support
- Connect with colleagues, friends, and family members for emotional support
- Join support groups or networks where healthcare professionals share experiences and coping strategies
- Set realistic goals
- Break down tasks into manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed
- Celebrate small achievements and progress
- Develop coping strategies
- Identify healthy coping mechanisms, such as journaling, creative outlets, or hobbies.
- Learn to recognize and challenge negative thoughts.
- Professional boundaries
- Establish clear professional boundaries to prevent burnout.
- Learn to say no when necessary to avoid overcommitting.
- Continuous learning
- Stay informed about new developments in healthcare and update skills.
- Embrace a growth mindset, viewing challenges as opportunities for learning and improvement.
- Reflective practices
- Regularly reflect on experiences and emotions to gain insight and perspective.
- Consider journaling to process thoughts and feelings.
- Peer support programs
- Encourage and participate in peer support programs within healthcare institutions.
- Discuss challenging cases with colleagues to share insights and strategies.
- Employee assistance programs (EAPs)
- Take advantage of EAPs that provide counseling and support services.
- EAPs can offer resources for managing stress, anxiety, and other mental health concerns.
- Regular supervision and feedback
- Establish open lines of communication with supervisors.
- Regular supervision and feedback sessions can provide a platform to discuss challenges and seek guidance.
- Crisis debriefing
- Participate in debriefing sessions after particularly challenging or traumatic events.
- Processing these events with colleagues can help prevent long-term emotional impact.
Remember that resilience is a skill that can be developed over time.
From the Mental Hygiene Project.
Shauna Kapsner | Director of Education & Events |
skapsner@careproviders.org | 952-851-2490