The Power of Psychological Self-Care in the Workplace
In my years as an advocate and Chaplain, I've witnessed firsthand how crucial psychological well-being is to our professional lives. Up front, my work in the Self Care space was driven by a horrific incident that made me question so called health authorities and the actual use of unorthodox Self Care practices for which to this date there has been no adequate accountability.
For a long time I was too ashamed to speak of my own experience, fearing others would judge me but the reality is Self Care must be evidence based and not dispensed as quackery. The impact of this 'quackery' on my long term health has been devastating. Put simply: We all the right to be safe in the hands of treating health professionals.
The truth is, psychological self-care isn't just a rescue remedy and it certainly isn't unorthodox abusive methods driven by dollars by an abusive system preying on the vulnerable, at their most vulnerable—it's a way of life.
Understanding Boundaries: The Foundation of Self-Care
At its core, psychological self-care revolves around setting and maintaining healthy boundaries. This might mean:
- Walking away from toxic situations
- Speaking up when something doesn't feel right
- Taking time to recharge when we're overwhelmed
These aren't signs of weakness—they're demonstrations of self-awareness and professional maturity. Unfortunately, these vital skills rarely appear in our formal education or professional training. Most of us only encounter them when seeking psychological support during difficult times.
The Hidden Cost of Neglecting Self-Care
In today's high-pressure work environment, organizations are bound to prioritize not just the physical safety of their employees, but their psychological and moral well-being as well. Creating a workplace culture that values mental health and supports ethical decision-making is crucial for both employee satisfaction and organizational success. All of this goes way beyond psychological safety. In essence we are talking about embedding organisational justice in our workplace cultures.
Moral Wellbeing Must Become The Norm Not The Exception
Through my recovery, I discovered that healing isn't just possible; it's achievable with the right tools and support. Some of that healing is telling your story, in whatever form is necessary and in a safe environment for you. I therefore hope this post might help just one person. If it does I have done my job for the day.
Introducing the Self-Care School
This is why at GIDII, we've developed our innovative Self-Care School program. It's been around since I was going through Breast Cancer Treatment in 2020 and was my salvation as a project, mostly because I wanted to understand what happened to me, as anyone would, so I went on a journey to find the science, the facts. It wasn't hard, it was all there so how this whole area has been unregulated for so long amazes me. I was devastated with what I learnt. Others had used and abused me and put my life at risk as a result. I don't want this to happen to you and that is my motivation. I am an intelligent professional woman and if it can happen to me it can happen to anyone.
We are currently rebranding it and updating our modules to focus entirely on healing from moral injury. Our comprehensive approach consists of 8 carefully crafted modules, each building upon the last to create a robust foundation for psychological wellness.
These modules serve as protective layers against moral distress, offering:
- Practical boundary-setting techniques
- Strategies for maintaining psychological well-being
- Tools for recognizing and addressing moral distress
- Methods for building resilience
Your Journey to Better Self-Care Starts Here
Whether you're an individual looking to enhance your well-being or an organization seeking to support your team's psychological health, our Self-Care School provides the framework you need. Remember, good psychological self-care practices are always available to us—we just need to know where to look and how to implement them.
The Foundation of Psychological Self-Care
Organizations play a vital role in promoting psychological self-care among their staff. This isn't just about offering wellness programs – it's about creating an environment where taking care of one's mental health is normalized and encouraged. It's also about knowing yourself, your own inner world.Â
Key elements include:
Practical Steps for Organizations
- **Structured Break Times**: Implement and actively encourage regular breaks during the workday
- **Vacation Policy**: Create clear policies that not only permit but actively encourage the use of vacation time
- **Flexible Working Arrangements**: Offer options that help employees maintain work-life balance
- **Mental Health Resources**: Provide access to counseling services and mental health support through employee assistance programs
- **Mindfulness Spaces**: Designate quiet areas for reflection or decompression during the workday
Protecting Staff from Moral Distress
Moral distress occurs when professionals know the ethically appropriate action to take but feel constrained from taking it. This is particularly prevalent in healthcare settings but can affect any workplace where employees face ethical dilemmas.
Creating a Supportive Framework
1. Clear Ethical Guidelines
- Develop comprehensive policies for handling ethically challenging situations
- Establish clear reporting mechanisms for ethical concerns
- Provide regular ethics training and updates
2. Resource Adequacy
- Ensure proper staffing levels to prevent burnout
- Maintain necessary equipment and supplies
- Provide access to expert consultation when needed
3. Support Systems
- Implement peer support programs
- Offer regular debriefing sessions
- Create forums for open discussion of ethical challenges
Building a Culture of Integrity
Organizations must foster an environment where employees can perform their duties with a sense of integrity. This includes:
- **Professional Development**: Supporting ongoing education and skill development
- **Ethical Leadership**: Demonstrating consistent ethical behavior at all levels of management
- **Open Communication**: Creating channels for honest dialogue about challenges and concerns
- **Recognition**: Acknowledging and celebrating ethical decision-making
Practical Implementation Strategies
To effectively implement these principles, organizations should:
1. **Conduct Regular Assessments**
- Survey employee well-being
- Monitor stress levels and workload
- Evaluate the effectiveness of support programs
2. **Provide Training and Education**
- Offer workshops on stress management
- Train leaders in supporting team mental health
- Provide ethics and decision-making frameworks
3. **Create Accountability Measures**
- Set clear expectations for psychological safety
- Include mental health metrics in organizational goals
- Regular review of policies and their effectiveness
The Role of Leadership
Leaders must actively champion psychological safety and moral well-being by:
- Modeling healthy work-life boundaries
- Openly discussing mental health and ethical challenges
- Creating safe spaces for team members to voice concerns
- Providing resources and support when needed
- Taking action on feedback and concerns
Conclusion
Investing in psychological safety and moral well-being is not just an ethical imperative – it's a business necessity. Organizations that prioritize these aspects create more resilient teams, reduce turnover, and improve overall performance. By implementing comprehensive support systems and fostering a culture of openness and integrity, organizations can help their employees thrive while maintaining high ethical standards.
The path to creating a psychologically safe workplace requires ongoing commitment and regular evaluation of practices. However, the benefits – including improved employee satisfaction, reduced burnout, and better organizational outcomes – make it well worth the investment.
Learn how your organisation can foster organisational justice and stop the harm with our deep dive training for business. We like to think of Policies and Procedures as the mandatory safety protection for us all but what happens when it goes all wrong, even at an institution we all trust. Excessive confidence in authority is a risk factor for psychological and physical safety. It's time we all understood that.
Learn how to identify moral distress, how to take action to help and understanding moral injury is a critical tool for all leaders. You must put in place protective measures that help your employees to identify moral distress and step up. Walking away because something is uncomfortable is not an option.
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