By ellie
Do you struggle to retain new staff in your organization? Are burnout, stress, or mental health injuries impacting your team’s morale and well-being? Research shows that young and new workers are more likely to be injured due to limited training, insufficient orientation, and being unaware of their rights and responsibilities.1 In fact, in 2024, WorkSafeBC … Continued
By ellie
Working alone is a common reality for many workers in social services, especially for those who provide direct services. If you have ever walked into a client’s home by yourself, answered an after-hours crisis call, or done outreach in the community without a colleague by your side, you know what working alone feels like. While … Continued
By andrewwalsh
By ellie
You’ve just completed a safety plan with a client who needed support with keeping themselves safe. It’s your third session like this for the week, and each time you leave with a rush of emotions, including tension, fatigue, and uncertainty. However, there’s little time to process, with paperwork waiting and more clients to see. Does … Continued
By jenniferquan
Do you volunteer or work with people living with substance use or addiction? Learn essential skills to support yourself and others through the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division’s (CMHA BC) Understanding Addiction course. Understanding Addiction is a unique online training program for those who work directly or indirectly with people living with substance use … Continued
By jenniferquan
Healthy workplaces do more than foster individual resilience – they ensure systems and policies promote healthy work relationships and environments. Psychological health and safety is about building workplaces that protect and support mental health for all, and everyone has a role to play. Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division (CMHA BC) offers a suite of … Continued
By jenniferquan
The Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division (CMHA BC) recognizes that every workplace is unique. We are dedicated to collaborating with employers and organizations to develop and deliver strategies, resources, and training that support and promote mental health for all. We are proud leaders in promoting psychological health and safety in BC. We offer customised … Continued
By ellie
This article explores how cultural backgrounds influence staff understanding and responses to trauma-informed and harm reduction practices within community social service teams. Aimed at leaders, it highlights the importance and benefits of taking a culturally sensitive approach to support team learning, build trust, and strengthen the implementation of these practices. Fostering Inclusive Practices in a … Continued
By ellie
Unlike physical injuries, which are often immediate and visible, psychological injuries tend to develop gradually and are more difficult to detect. As support workers, we’re often trained to recognize emotional distress in others but not always in ourselves. When you’re constantly caring for others, it’s easy to overlook the subtle signals your own body and … Continued
By ellie
Social services work inevitably challenge workers’ values directly and personally. The nature of the work often brings you face-to-face with ethical dilemmas, cultural complexity, and systemic inequities that can challenge your beliefs and assumptions. As a social service worker, you may need to balance the expectations of your organization with your own personal and cultural … Continued
