Monthly Monitor: Mental Health Issue
Editor of the Month: Pari Shah
In this Issue:
Editorial: Moral Injury and Our Mental Health
Facing the Post-PhD Academic Job Market
Finding the Right Therapist
Morning Bell, or The Taming of the Imposter Student
Does Your Prospective Employer Prioritize Wellness?
It’s Okay to Step Away
Calm App Review: I Tried It, So You Don’t Have To!
Stay Informed and Engaged: The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council changes policies that protect LGBTQIA+ individuals and those with differing abilities
Social Work Snippets
From the Editor’s Desk-
Moral Injury and Our Mental Health
Have you been feeling overwhelmed with the constant changes in COVID-19 cases, social injustices, and the impending election? 2020 has brought many painful moments that most of us directly experienced or could empathize with. The reality of this current moment is that most of us are experiencing higher levels of mental health strain, and we are trying to figure out how to cope in these confusing and scary times. As our worlds have totally shifted this year, we have not only experienced many literal losses, we have also experienced many ambiguous losses (Boss, 1999).
In addition to the many losses, changes, and adjustments we have had to make this year, many folks are feeling more anxiety, confusion, and frustration. In a year where our civic duties are being called to action, we also are constantly thinking about how we can engage in our communities in meaningful ways.
To say the least, we, especially as social workers, are experiencing high levels of pressure and urgency to practice and protect our community members during this turbulent time. In times of crisis, like 2020, social workers work on the frontlines of their communities to protect vulnerable folks and instill equity in services. As PhD students, we also are feeling this urgent call to action to create relevant work that tackles these crises that have arisen this past year.
Along with our responsibility as public servants, we also are coping with the turbulence of 2020 as human beings. Many people have described a constant feeling of dread, fear, guilt, shame, and worry. While we must consider the multiple avenues of stress that are contributing to our mental health drain, we may be sharing in the experience of moral injury.
Moral injury is a concept termed by Jonathan Shay (2014) that explains the experience of guilt and shame resulting from an incident in which our moral boundaries are broken or transgressed by someone in a position of power or by ourselves. Shay’s concept, while emerging from working with veterans, can be applied to the current sentiment that we are all carrying in our hearts. When the pandemic began, we asked, “Am I doing enough?” or “Am I doing this right?” When following the national stay-at-home orders, as social workers, some of us wondered, “What about the people who do not have homes?” or “What about the people who are not safer at home?” When the nation “reopened” over Memorial Day, some of us wondered, “Is this right?” or “Is this the safest decision?” or “What about the folks who can’t leave their homes?”
As we heard and witnessed the national police brutality unfairly take the lives of Black Americans, some of us felt guilt and shame, and others of us felt fear, which led us to a national call to action to fight back. As the fall season arrives, and the presidential election is upon us, some of us asked, “What can I do?” or “How can I participate?” or “What will we do if…?”
This year, we as social workers and people, have been faced with the challenge of making moral or ethical dilemmas for the safety of ourselves, loved ones, or clients. At times, decisions were made for us, and we witnessed actions that broke our moral boundaries, that made us feel guilty or shameful; thus, we experienced moral injury.
While moral injury is a newer concept, it is one that applies to the internal conflict that has arisen for all of us at some point this year. We are unsure how moral injury impacts mental health, but we do know that the high levels of shame and guilt contribute to feelings of anxiety.
This year has been tough on each of us, and moral injury can help explain some of the feelings you may be experiencing. With this knowledge, the SSWR Communications Committee encourages you to give yourself time for healing and reflection even as you push head on into your work with your clients, communities, and studies.
References
Boss, P. (1999). Ambiguous loss: Learning to live with unresolved grief. Harvard College.
Shay, J. (2014). Moral injury. Psychoanalytic Psychology. 31(2), 182-191.
Facing the Post-PhD Academic Job Market
If you are nearing the end of your Ph.D., you probably expected to be approaching a wide-open field of academic opportunities, yet without any warning, the world as we knew it has shifted.
We are currently in the main hiring season for the upcoming academic year, but the job options are sparse. This time last year, new faculty openings appeared almost daily on sites like Higher Ed Jobs and the CSWE careers page. Due to COVID-19, hiring freezes and the tightening of budgets means fewer faculty positions and more competition for these open positions.
Breathe in…and out.
We do not mean to instill panic by bringing up this topic. We only want to acknowledge the feelings of uncertainty or frustration that many PhD students in the job market might be experiencing. There are no easy answers or quick fixes, but we want to offer some suggestions to help you manage the uncertainty and begin to plan a path forward.
Talk to other academics.
Talk to your dissertation chair, your program director, and previous alums in positions both in and outside of academia. Use your networking skills to connect with other academics that you have met from other institutions to get input about what is being discussed inside their institution. Each school is in a different position, so hearing from a wide range of people might offer a greater understanding of the field. In these conversations:
Ask about the benefits and impacts of working outside of academia for a year or two, if this becomes necessary.
Discuss how adjunct positions might help bridge any gaps between your Ph.D. and a tenure-track position.
Ask for help identifying post-doctoral positions or other research-based positions.
Make a publishing and research plan.
If you need to take a non-academic position or part-time teaching position, develop an intentional plan to maintain your research and writing. Begin to generate ideas for partnering with others in your academic network to stay active in scholarship. This will help you maintain your competitive edge when more jobs do begin to open.
Finally, take some time to think through your specific “what ifs”.
Brené Brown regularly reminds our culture and profession to “lean in” to the emotions and vulnerability of the present moment. Naming your worries and disappointments clearly can transform a hovering cloud of worry into manageable pieces that will allow you to find the answers and make the connections that will allow you to navigate this time as best as possible.
Best of luck on your job search and remember your self-worth is not summed up by how many job offers you receive.
Finding the Right Therapist
As social workers, we know the importance of seeking mental health care. Yet, at times, we also sometimes put off that daunting task. Finding a good therapist can be a large undertaking. When thinking about finding a therapist, we have to consider cost, time, scheduling, scope, and if they will be a good fit for our needs. Finding a good therapist can often feel like speed dating; time consuming and personal.
We have compiled some tips and tricks to remember as you are searching for the right therapist. This process is divided into three stages: the introspective questioning, the data collection, and the connecting.
The Introspective Questioning
When thinking about finding a therapist, we must reconcile why we are seeking a therapist in the first place. Folks seek therapists for many reasons; life transitions, stress with school, global changes, anxiety management, identity development, and more. Whatever your reason may be for seeking a therapist is a good reason. In asking yourself this question of why you want to seek a therapist, you are better understanding your own needs; thus, you will better be able to express these needs to a therapist.
The Data Collection
There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to starting therapy services. Here is a quick checklist that you can use to determine if you have everything in order before contacting potential therapists.
▢ Determine your insurance provider and their mental health coverage policy.
▢ Determine if you plan on using your insurance, or if you are seeking a private pay therapist.
▢ Decide on a monthly therapy budget.
▢ Make a list of characteristics you value in a therapist.
▢ Make a short list of three therapists that match your aforementioned requirements.
Try searching through your University Health and Counseling Center referral system, PsychologyToday, and OpenPath Collective (offers sliding scale options).
▢ Ask the three therapists for their intake paperwork so you can gain further information.
▢ Schedule a consultation appointment with one to three of the therapists.
The Connecting
Meeting with a therapist is a very personal experience, and remember that it is okay to be nervous and anxious for this first meeting. When you meet with a potential therapist, it is important for you to share your needs, wants, and goals out of a therapeutic relationship. In sharing and developing your goals with your therapist, you can always check back in with your therapist if you feel these goals or needs are not being met. Finding a therapist is not always an easy process, and we hope this checklist can make finding the right therapist for you more attainable!
Morning Bell, or The Taming of the Imposter Student
I’ve had these recurring dreams about my PhD program. It’s late at night, and everyone in my doctoral program, including my Chair, my committee members, fellow doctoral students, even some of the students I’ve taught, is waiting for me on this huge coach bus. I’m already running late and gathering all of my things. I run from my house to the bus for what feels like miles, but when I finally get there, everyone is hanging out of the windows of the bus shouting,
“Why are you here?”
“We’ve been waiting for you for hours!”
“Are you sure you belong on this bus?”
“I’m not sure you’re going to want to go where this bus is going!”
Suddenly, the bus drives away, leaving me behind. Then I wake up.
I’ve had some version of this dream for the past three years as a doctoral student. Now, a PhD candidate in my fourth year, you would think that I would’ve let go of all of my insecurities and anxieties about being a doctoral student. But the truth is this feeling that you’re just “not good enough” for your doctoral program, what people often like to call “Imposter Syndrome,” is not going away.
How have I coped with Imposter Syndrome? First, I had to acknowledge that it existed. In other words, I had to own it. It was a part of me, and I couldn’t just wish it away or pretended it didn’t exist. Second, I had to embrace it, or rather squeeze it really tightly until all the air came out of its body. You know, like when your great-aunts and -uncles hug you at a family reunion. Lastly, I had to squelch it. If I could’ve made a house fall on it, I would’ve only to see it exterminated completely. I told Imposter Syndrome it wasn’t worth my time, that I knew I was “worth it,” and that I could succeed in my doctoral program.
And that was it. Or so I thought…
You see, Imposter Syndrome sort of freezes in your subconscious for a while, but then the slightest trigger- maybe an article rejection from a journal, a caustic remark by one of your committee members, or a humiliating conference experience- can crack it open and release all those demons telling you you’re a fake, a phony, and a wolf in sheep’s clothing. This has happened to me a couple of times since the first time I laid Imposter Syndrome to rest. Each time, I use the same three-step approach: Own, Embrace, Squelch.
Yes, it’s an iterative approach, but it works for me. The trick is to realize Imposter Syndrome is actually a “good villain.” After all, if I weren’t constantly tested and periodically having the same annoying dream, then I wouldn’t realize how much I really do belong in my doctoral program.
Does Your Prospective Employer Prioritize Wellness?
You’ve been offered a great position, and you’re ecstatic. You should be! You’re about to accept when you stop to consider whether the institution or agency prioritizes wellness. In such a stressful time, this question is more important than ever. Investigating the wellness supports and practices at your future place of employment could foster a good work environment and prevent premature departure. Wellness encompasses many domains ranging from the commonly cited categories such as physical fitness and mental health to less commonly thought of areas such as financial fitness. Here is a list of some, but not all, indicators that your future employer truly values wellness(1)(2):
Physical Wellness
On-site physical activity/physical education
On-site walking trails
Walking programs
Ergonomic evaluations and equipment
Weight management programs
Access to or subsidized membership to fitness facilities
Smoking cessation programs
On-site and/or free influenza immunizations
Healthy options in vending machines
Mental Health
Stress prevention/reduction programs
Employee assistance programs
Conflict resolution programs
Opportunities to flex time for service/volunteering
Sleep health education
Ability to use use vacation/sick time for mental health
Life/Work Balance (i.e. financial wellness)
Flexibility in scheduling
On-site or subsidized child care programs
Lactation suites
Interpersonal violence programs
Maternal and paternal leave
Free and accessible parking
Subsidized public transportation
Financial education workshops
Wellness committee
Diversity and inclusion committee
Formal mentorship programs
Places to relax/take breaks during the work day
Interviewees should have confidence to evaluate a potential place of employment. Afterall, people invest at least 40 hours per week at work. If possible, taking time to find the best fit will ensure long-term success and wellness with a caring company(3).
References
Adapted from Brauer, N., Dewald, L., & O’Brien, M. (n.d.). Trend results from three surveys assessing faculty and staff wellness initiatives. https://www.acha.org/documents/Networks/Coalitions/Results_from_Surveys_Assessing_Faculty_and_Staff_ Wellness_Initiatives.pdf
Adapted from Northwestern University. (n.d.). Well-being [2020]. Northwestern Human Resources. Retrieved October 21, 2020, from https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/well-being/
Rose, A., Khullar, L., Hill, C., & Zettervall, A. (2017). Developing university wellness programs. University of North Carolina ULEAD. https://hr.unc.edu/files/2017/12/Developing-University-Wellness-Programs-ULEAD- 2017.pdf
It’s Okay to Step Away
As helping professionals, we often forget to help ourselves. How can you help others if you are not caring for yourself? Then again, what does helping yourself look like anyway? This question is further blurred when you are in training to become a scholar, researcher, advocate, or leader at the doctoral level. While there are days I want to get on the next one-way flight to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, I ask myself one question (yes, I talk to myself) "Latoya, have you taken a break?" The answer? 99.99 percent of the time, "No."
Before working on my Ph.D., taking a break or walking away from work was easy. I scheduled personal time off (PTO), hopped on a flight to Miami, and 'ta-da', on the beach without a care in the world. Now? Well, I do not know what PTO looks like for someone who constantly thinks about research, has random Google searches on research, and likes to scribble on their wall of adhesive dry-erase contact paper about research (yes, yet another reference to yours truly). I can; however, say taking a step away is okay!
Granted COVID-19 has been detrimental to many of us in unique and traumatic ways. However, you must be kind to yourself. My colleagues have provided great topics and insights related to mental health in this month's issue. If you were looking for that nudge or a Denzel Washington head nod, this my friend is IT. You can take a break with or without a plan. That day spent in bed under a weighted blanket to catch up on sleep? It is okay! Taking a day to lay on your couch to catch up on the latest binge series on Netflix or Hulu, yes, that too is okay.
Yes, there are some consequences with stepping away for a moment. Even when stepping away, you are planning on how you will “catch up” or “make-up for lost time.” My advice would be to find a comfortable stopping point in your work, then step away. Please remember to rest your brain. If you do not, your body will remind you very quickly who's really in control.
I hope my quick reminder gave you a chuckle or reminded you to take a break. Please be sure to put my colleagues' thoughts and advice to good use. We are few in number, but mighty! This one is dedicated to all the Social Work Doc students!
Calm App Review
I Tried It, So You Don’t Have To!
Advertisements for the Calm App are so ubiquitous that I cannot pinpoint where I first heard about this app. The Calm App is a meditation and sleep aide, designed to relax the listener. When I opened this app for the first time, it prompted me to pick a goal, ranging from reducing anxiety or stress to developing gratitude and increasing happiness. I selected “reduce stress,” because I, like everyone, would truly benefit from stress reduction right now.
The Calm App advertises over 100+ programs designed to reduce stress. I just launched my 7-day free trial that I will promptly cancel after the free period to avoid a fee of $69.99/year. Launching a pre-recorded meditation, a soothing voice instructs me to get comfortable and consider the moment without distraction while a babbling brook plays in the background. During this meditation, I do appreciate the checking-in with myself that the voice prompts and the self-awareness that it welcomes. I can’t say I’d ever pay $69.99/year for this, but the range of topics and lengths of these sessions do make for something that is very accessible if one wants to make meditation a larger part of one’s day.
So in all, it’s a nice app and seems to deliver what it advertises. But will I pay for it after the 7-day free trial? Definitely not. Was the free trial worth my fears that it will accidentally charge me after the trial period? Not really. But will I look into free versions of this app instead? Absolutely.
Currently, US health care professionals working in public health settings get free access to headspace, a similar meditation app. Working social work professionals, this could mean you! If that option isn’t available to you, a few additional free links are below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZToicYcHIOU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-6f5wQXSu8
Stay Informed and Engaged
The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council changes policies that protect LGBTQIA+ individuals and those with differing abilities
In mid-October, the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners (TSBSWE) voted unanimously to remove wording from the Social Work Code of Conduct that explicitly protects LGBTQIA+ individuals and those with differing abilities from being discriminated against when accessing services. The change was recommended by the Governor, Greg Abbott. The board is made up of nine individuals who are appointed by the governor, and currently, six of the nine appointees are credentialed social workers.
In an advocacy alert, the Texas Chapter of NASW made the following statement:
The Texas Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is outraged that the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners (TSBSWE) accepted language from the Governor of Texas removing protections against discrimination for disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression from the Social Work Code of Conduct. The Governor’s office rationalizes this change by claiming that agency rules cannot be more expansive than what is in state law… But the Code of Conduct is the guide which serves as the foundation for the profession, and sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression should receive protected status. Social workers already have the ability to decline to provide services to a client based on their competencies and training, but they cannot discriminate based on selective personal values.
Information about the decision, ideas for advocacy, and statement letters from organizations and national leaders can be found at the NASW website.
The SSWR Doctoral Student Committee collectively rejects this policy change.
To those who have differing abilities and/or identify as LGBTQIA+, including our members, fellow students, colleagues, and clients, we want to acknowledge the psychological and social harm that this policy may create in your lives. We reject the invalidation of LGBTQIA+ and differently abled people as well as the systemic oppression the policy represents. We promise to stand with you in solidarity for change and equity.
Policy Update (October 27, 2020): The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council, which oversees the Texas Chapter of the NASW, overruled this policy change and restored protections for LGBTAIA+ and differently abled people.
https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/27/texas-social-workers-lgbtq-disabilities-discrimination/
Social Work Snippets
Mentoring Opportunity via SSWR: Coffee With A Scholar is Back (But Virtual)!
Each year, the DSC coordinates Coffee With A Scholar to coincide with the annual SSWR conference. This is a unique opportunity for SSWR doctoral student members to network with a researcher outside of their usual networks. Doctoral students can sign up for Coffee With a Scholar when they register for SSWR or at https://bit.ly/2ThyhwR.
What can you do? Sign up if you are interested! Also, please let your classmates know by sending an email to your whole university program. People are busy and get a lot of email. We get it. They may overlook email, but they will open a tailored message from you – a trusted source. We’ve even developed a template email you can use. We don’t want people to miss out because they don’t know about Coffee With A Scholar. It’s a real hidden gem at SSWR that gets very positive evaluations.
You can boost our messages about Coffee With A Scholar on social media. We will be sharing updates via the DSC Facebook page. You can also check out #CoffeeWithAScholar on Twitter for future posts.
If you have any questions about Coffee With A Scholar, feel free to email SSWRdoc@gmail.com. One of the committee members will respond to you.
Time to Reflect
We are in research-intensive environments, but we are also social workers with feelings, ideas, and connections that are intellectual and conceptual but not always research-based. Did you all know about the Reflections journal? It’s their 20th anniversary and is a peer-reviewed journal for academic voices and pieces that are about transforming social work. It seems perfect for the type of community-engaged writing that is rising at the moment. Check it out.
https://reflectionsjournal.net/
Mental Health October
Mental Illness Awareness Week, Depression Screening Day, and World Mental Health Day were all this month. Check out the National Alliance on Mental Illness’s (NAMI) site for more resources on graphics/images, sentimoji stickers, awareness messaging, and many more ways to get involved!
https://www.nami.org/get-involved/awareness-events/mental-illness-awareness-week
Don’t forget #Votingissocialwork !
Connect to useful voting resources @ https://votingissocialwork.org/
Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month!
Here are some great tips for supporting Hispanic Heritage on social media this month or any month: https://www.google.com/amp/s/later.com/blog/hispanic-heritage-month-on-social-media/amp/
Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program for Professionals Application Open
HRSA grants to develop and expand experiential training opportunities, such as field placements and internships, to improve the distribution and supply of the behavioral health workforce. The program emphasizes relationships with community-based partners to increase access to quality behavioral health services across the lifespan in high need and high demand areas. Special focus is placed on demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the specific concerns for children, adolescents, and transitional-aged youth who are at risk for behavioral health disorders.
Details available here.
The deadline is January 31, 2021.
Research on Biopsychosocial Factors of Social Connectedness and Isolation on Health, Well Being, Illness, and Recovery Grant Application Open
This program provides grants for research projects that examine how social isolation and social connectedness affect outcomes in health, illness, recovery, and overall well being.
Areas of focus include:
Effects of social connectedness, connection, and isolation across the lifespan
Mechanisms of connectedness, connection, and isolation, including neurobiological, behavioral, and environmental factors
Knowledge representation and behavioral development
The deadline is March 17, 2021.
Details available here.
The Center for Mental Health Services Research at the Brown School of Social Work Postdoctoral Training Application Open
This application is for postdoctoral training in mental health services research. The program is supported by a National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Training Grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH – T32 MH19960).
Program Details: Our program aims to expand the pool of investigators capable of undertaking mental health services and systems research with a focus on the implementation of evidence-based mental health care, globally or domestically. The program provides multidisciplinary training for two years. A mentoring team is established for each post-doctoral research scholar to guide their development as a researcher and authorship of independently funded research proposals.
We invite applications from individuals with an earned M.D., or Ph.D. from such fields as social work, psychology, health services, organizational psychology, nursing, anthropology, public health, economics, or management. Washington University in St. Louis is committed to building a diverse academic community and encourages members of underrepresented groups to apply. Stipend levels and benefits will follow those established by the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA).
The program starts in July 2021.
Details available here.
Call for Papers: Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care Special Issue: Social Work Practice during Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
The Coronavirus Pandemic has created changes and challenges in how social work practice is being conducted in all areas of the health care system due to guidelines and restrictions put in place in response to the pandemic. Thus, hospice, palliative, and other social workers are being tasked with supporting individuals, families, and co-workers in new, unforeseen, and creative ways. In this special issue, social workers are encouraged to share reflections about the situations, challenges, and changes they are experiencing as well as the processes of new ways to connect with those in most in need of intervention. In addition, it is important that social workers’ practice self-care and so papers on approaches to doing so during this stressful time are welcome. Authors are strongly encouraged to contact the Journal Editor-in-Chief, Ellen Csikai (ecsikai@sw.ua.edu), with a brief paragraph or outline of their proposed submission. The editor will provide feedback to authors about the appropriateness and/or give suggestions about how to enhance their potential contribution.
The deadline is December 31, 2020.
Details available here.
Looking for a therapist or know someone who is?
Open Path Psychotherapy Collective is a non-profit nationwide network of mental health professionals dedicated to providing in-office and online mental health care—at a steeply reduced rate—to individuals, couples, children, and families in need. Check it out at Open Path Collective: https://openpathcollective.org/.
Anti-Racist Pedagogy in Social Work Doctoral Education: Session 2 Student Ally Meeting on November 10th!
Register here https://tinyurl.com/y3r6v4u3 !
SSWR DSC POST-Election Detox
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/Y5A58LV0
Disclaimer: This newsletter is created as free service by SSWR Doctoral Student Committee Communications Subcommittee members:
Stefani Nicole Baca-Atlas
Alberto Cifuentes, Jr.
Erica Linn Eliason
Latoya Hogg
Anika Langaigne
Dominique Mikell Montgomery
Pari Shah
Candra Skrzypek
Veronica Timbers
The opinions expressed in this newsletter are the opinions of the individuals listed above alone and do not claim to represent the opinions of SSWR or the SSWR Doctoral Student Committee.