Hi @Sarah, welcome to the forums! And thanks for your self-care tips & link to Darria Long’s TED talk about managing stress.
This week Victorian Paramedics were placed in a highly stressful situation when a Code Red was declared due to overwhelming calls. Some were forced to miss meals and some were in tears mid-shift. It’s just one example of the extreme situations all first responders can face, putting them at risk for poor mental health outcomes. Fortunately, there are tools which can help.
The ‘5 Resiliency Skills’ were developed for First Responders and shown to lessen compassion fatigue and anxiety while leading to increased job satisfaction and quality of life:
1) Self-care and revitalisation
2) Self-awareness
3) Eradicating stress
4) Improved perceptions of self and job
5) Connection and support
(Gentry, Baranowsky & Dunning, 2002)
So what are some ways to skill up in these areas?
#2 Self-awareness – try @Sarah’s tip to ‘check-in on yourself’
#3 Eradicating Stress – try Darria Long’s stress management techniques
#5 Connection and support – stay engaged on the online forums and reach out to colleagues
What are some more tips from community members to develop these skills?