Redefining Workplace Mental Health: Lessons from The Compass Center

In honor of World Mental Health Day 2024, The Compass Center shines a light on an often-overlooked aspect of mental health in victim-serving organizations: the impact of secondary trauma on staff. Discover how our innovative approach to self-care and risk management is transforming workplace wellness and enhancing client care. Plus, learn about our upcoming Spring 2025 conference that will continue this crucial conversation.

As we consider World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2024, with its theme “Mental Health at Work,” The Compass Center is at the forefront of a crucial conversation. Our recent presentation at the Community Response to Child Abuse Conference by Michelle Trent and Briana Halse shed light on an often-overlooked aspect of mental health in victim-serving organizations: the impact of secondary trauma on staff.

The Hidden Cost of Compassion

Working at The Compass Center and similar organizations comes with an emotional price tag. Secondary trauma, the stress resulting from helping or wanting to help traumatized individuals, is a real and significant risk for our staff. This aligns perfectly with the World Mental Health Day objective of raising awareness about mental health issues globally.

Self-Care as Risk Management: A Paradigm Shift

Our presentation, “Self-Care as Risk Management,” introduced a revolutionary approach to workplace mental health. We propose viewing self-care not just as a personal practice, but as an essential component of organizational risk management. This shift in perspective has the potential to transform how victim-serving organizations operate, lead, and care for their teams.

Building a Trauma-Informed Organization

To combat the effects of secondary trauma, The Compass Center has implemented several strategies that other organizations can adopt:

  1. Annual Intention Meetings (AIM): Staff create customized resiliency plans with their managers.
  2. Quarterly GOSH Days: Dedicated days for staff to focus on resilience and recovery without client interactions.
  3. The 70% Rule: Encouraging staff to step back from client-facing roles when not at their best.
  4. Regular Case Consultations: Teaching staff how to engage in real debriefing to avoid trauma-spreading.

The Ripple Effect: From Staff to Clients

By prioritizing staff mental health, we’re not just supporting our team – we’re enhancing the quality of care we provide to our clients. A resilient, supported workforce is better equipped to offer compassionate, effective services to those affected by sexual, relational, and family trauma.

Joining the Global Conversation

As we commemorate World Mental Health Day 2024, The Compass Center invites other organizations to join us in reimagining workplace mental health. By implementing trauma-informed practices and prioritizing self-care, we can create work environments that support mental health, reduce burnout, and ultimately provide better services to those who need them most.

Together, we can turn the tide on workplace mental health issues and create a future where both staff and clients thrive. This World Mental Health Day, let’s commit to making mental health care a reality for people worldwide, starting with those on the front lines of compassion.

Continuing the Conversation: Spring 2025 Resiliency Training Conference

The conversation on workplace mental health doesn’t end here. We’re excited to announce that The Compass Center will be hosting a Resiliency Training and Professional Wellness Conference in Spring 2025. This event will provide an opportunity for professionals in victim-serving organizations to dive deeper into the strategies and practices that promote mental health at work.

At this conference, you’ll have the chance to:

  • Learn from experts in the field of trauma-informed care and organizational wellness
  • Participate in workshops on implementing effective self-care strategies
  • Network with other professionals committed to transforming workplace mental health
  • Gain practical tools to build resilience in your organization

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the movement towards healthier, more resilient workplaces. Join our email list to get all the details about the conference as they become available. Together, we can create a future where mental health at work is not just a goal, but a reality.

Ready to take the next step in transforming workplace mental health? Sign up for our email list to receive updates about the Spring 2025 Resiliency Training and Professional Wellness Conference. Be the first to know about early bird registration, speaker announcements, and exclusive pre-conference content. Join us in building a more resilient future for our organizations and the communities we serve.

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By continuing to engage in these vital discussions and implementing trauma-informed practices, we can make every day a step towards better mental health at work, not just World Mental Health Day. Let’s work together to create workplaces that nurture both our staff and the individuals we serve.

Briana Halse and Michelle Trent present at the 2024 Community Response to Child Abuse Conference.