Challenges Mental Health Support Workers Face

Supporting Others While Supporting Ourselves

Mental health support workers assist people with mental health challenges, helping individuals with their daily activities and helping them achieve their wellness goals. They also help monitor progress and collaborate in developing, reviewing, and modifying treatment plans.

Recognising the significance of self-care, especially during challenging workdays, is paramount for mental health support workers. To ensure they can continue providing exceptional care, various resources and techniques are available to support mental, emotional, and physical health:

Building a strong support system within their team, encouraging open conversations about challenges and seeking guidance when needed.
Embracing journaling to process emotions and thoughts, enhancing self-awareness and personal growth.
Striving for a healthy work-life balance, nurturing relationships with family and making time for leisure activities to recharge and find joy outside of work.
Prioritising physical health by getting adequate sleep, maintaining a balanced diet, and engaging in regular exercise to boost overall well-being.
Recognising the value of seeking professional support.

While support workers devote themselves to caring for others, it is important for them to prioritise self-care practices and seek help for their own mental health struggles.

Challenges Faced by Mental Health Support Workers

Mental Health support workers are uniquely qualified, having received specialised training to deliver expert services while drawing from their own personal experiences.

It is common for mental health support workers to encounter various challenges that can be emotionally draining and mentally demanding. It’s important for individuals to remember to take care of themselves and seek assistance whenever necessary.

Below, we explain some challenges mental health support workers face and possible solutions to overcome them.

Irregular Work Hours

Irregular work hours, such as night shifts or rotating schedules, can disrupt the natural sleep-wake cycle of mental health support workers. Over time, this can contribute to sleep disorders, fatigue, and decreased overall well-being.

The unpredictability of schedules may lead to difficulties in maintaining relationships, participating in hobbies or leisure activities, and fulfilling personal commitments. This can lead to feelings of isolation, limited social support, and decreased overall life satisfaction. Also, the constant adjustment to irregular work hours can result in increased stress levels which can negatively impact their ability to provide compassionate support.

Effective scheduling strategies and self-care activities can help mental health support workers create a sense of structure within their irregular work hours. Open communication with supervisors and colleagues about scheduling concerns is also a recommended approach to overcome the challenge of irregular work hours.

Work Overload

The need for supporting roles in healthcare has grown exponentially in recent years, following more person-centred and recovery-oriented care. However, there is a shortage of mental health support workers, causing work overload.

When mental health support workers are faced with too much work, it can impact their ability to provide proactive care. This can lead to rushed decision-making, reduced attention to detail, and potential errors. Such challenges can have a negative impact on the well-being of those in need of support, which is why it’s crucial for support workers to look after their mental well-being.

To manage these challenges, support workers should communicate with their manager and explain that they are struggling with the level of work and collaborate to find appropriate solutions. Mental health support workers should also actively seek support from their colleagues, peers, and professional networks to maintain social connection and well-being.

Further Training

Pursuing training while working as a mental health support worker can be demanding, as it requires additional time and energy. However, pursuing training is crucial for providing exceptional services to individuals.

Developing effective time management and planning skills is necessary to meet training goals. It is crucial for support workers to prioritise their work-life balance to avoid feeling overwhelmed by their workload and training. Additionally, effective communication with one’s team is essential for working collaboratively and developing a sense of unity.

Lack of Mentorship and Supervision

Without adequate support, mental health support workers may feel isolated and overwhelmed, potentially leading to increased stress, burnout, and decreased job satisfaction. Mentorship is also important for support workers to develop best practices and stay updated with the latest research and evidence-based approaches.

To overcome these challenges, mental health support workers must build and maintain relations with their team members and managers for guidance. It’s important for the individual to ask their manager for further guidance and communicate, requesting their need for mentorship.

At Leaf Complex Care, we provide excellent mentorship as a core component of our team’s professional development, ensuring that support workers have access to experienced mentors who can provide guidance, support, and opportunities for growth.

Personal Safety at Workplace

Everyone deserves to feel safe at work. Building an environment of trust and safety not only enhances the well-being of support workers but also promotes effective and quality care. Support workers should experience an environment of trust and safety. If someone’s personal safety is in danger, the support worker must contact their supervisors and report the incident. Reporting the incident ensures that appropriate measures can be taken to address the issue and protect the well-being of the team. Seeking support ensures people can access the necessary tools and assistance to cope with and prevent unsafe situations.

Burnout

Working in emotionally difficult environments for a long time can lead to burnout, which is characterised by exhaustion and decreased empathy and is associated with depression, anxiety, and challenges with sleeping.

Support workers can identify their challenges and mitigate the risks leading to burnout. Prioritising rest, setting clear boundaries between work and personal life, and taking regular breaks during shifts can help replenish energy and prevent burnout. Seeing a therapist can provide valuable assistance for support workers to express their feelings and navigate the emotional challenges of their work.

At Leaf Complex Care, we prioritise the well-being of our mental health support workers and we are committed to creating a supportive environment that promotes self-care and resilience.

Care Resistance

There may be situations when a person resists care. Usually, these situations occur when a person gets support for the first time or fears losing their independence and dignity.

One of the recommended strategies to manage this challenge is for the support worker to remain calm, openly talk with the person they support, take the time needed and work on building trust with the person. Demonstrating empathy and understanding helps create an environment where individuals feel heard and respected.

Support workers should actively involve individuals in decision-making processes, allowing them to retain a sense of control and independence. At Leaf Complex Care, we prioritise every individual’s independence and dignity, ensuring that their needs and preferences are met.

Arranging Transportation

Transportation challenges can significantly impact the stress levels of support workers. The distance, unpredictable traffic, or limited public transport options may increase anxiety and exhaustion. Such additional stressors can affect the overall well-being of support workers and potentially impact their ability to provide effective care.

Communicating with your team members or manager about your challenges with transportation can lead to solutions that benefit everyone. One option is to consider car schemes with colleagues. At Leaf Complex Care, we understand the need for car schemes and offer car schemes to all of our support workers.

Dealing With Loss

Mental health support workers establish strong bonds with the people they serve. This deep connection is rooted in trust, empathy, and compassion, enabling support workers to provide the best care possible. Unfortunately, no one can predict life. The individuals support workers provide care for sometimes pass away. The emotional challenges of loss can include feelings of sadness, grief, and guilt and even lead support workers to question the effectiveness of their care.

It’s important to take time to process the grief of losing someone. Talking to your team members or a therapist might be necessary to overcome challenging feelings. Additionally, engaging in regular exercise, maintaining a healthy routine, and practising relaxation techniques can be helpful in the healing process.

COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health support workers faced many challenges. They needed to adapt quickly to requests while the number of people needing support increased. Also, they had to adopt new technologies and methods to respond effectively to healthcare demands. Support workers were at high risk of infection during correspondence and delivery of services, and for some support workers, this fear impacted their well-being.

At Leaf Complex Care, the well-being of our mental health support workers was our priority, and we made sure our team had a network of support systems. Talking to team members, family, and even therapists can help individuals navigate concerns.

How to Overcome Challenges

It is important for mental health support workers to find ways to improve their well-being and utilise self-care techniques. By looking after themselves, support workers can continue providing person-centred and compassionate care.

Here are some strategies to effectively overcome the challenges:

Continuous education and training. Mental health support workers should engage in ongoing professional development and stay updated with the latest research, treatment approaches, and techniques. This enables them to better understand and address the challenges faced by the individuals they support
Cultivate empathy and understanding. Developing empathy and a non-judgmental attitude is essential for mental health support workers. It allows them to create a safe and trusting environment where individuals feel comfortable discussing their concerns.
Effective communication. Communication is crucial for mental health support workers to better tailor the support for individuals. Effective communication also involves providing information, setting realistic expectations, and explaining treatment plans and options.
Self-care. Supporting others can be emotionally demanding. Therefore, mental health support workers need to prioritise their own well-being by engaging in self-care activities such as exercise, hobbies and seeking their own support network.
Collaborative approach. Mental health support workers should collaborate with other professionals. By working together and sharing expertise, they can better address complex challenges and provide comprehensive support.
Cultural competence. Being aware of the diverse backgrounds and experiences of individuals is vital for mental health support workers. This involves understanding cultural norms that may influence mental health perceptions and seeking appropriate strategies for support.
Maintain boundaries and self-awareness. Establishing clear boundaries with individuals and being self-aware is essential to maintain a professional relationship and ensure well-being. Seeking advice and emotional support from experienced colleagues can help address any challenges mental health support workers encounter.

Overcoming challenges is an ongoing process, and mental health support workers should act compassionately towards themselves and seek support when needed.

Our Goal at Leaf Complex Care

At Leaf Complex Care, we positively impact people’s lives together as a team. We deliver person-centred care and design personalised care plans developed with the active participation and contribution of the people we care for.

Our support workers deliver exceptional care to the individuals we serve, and we believe in ensuring and taking care of our support workers and their well-being, helping them through any challenges they may face.

To be part of our extraordinary team at Leaf Complex Care, apply for a support worker role and make an impactful difference in someone’s life.

How We Support Our Team

Here are some ways that Leaf Complex Care contributes to the professional growth and well-being of our compassionate mental health support workers:

We offer training and educational opportunities to enhance their knowledge and skills in specific areas of mental health.
We create opportunities for support workers to discuss challenging cases, seek guidance, and receive feedback.
We provide supervision and mentoring.
We foster a collaborative environment where mental health support workers can work alongside other professionals such as psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and nurses. This teamwork facilitates a holistic approach to mental health care, allowing for comprehensive assessment, treatment planning, and ongoing support for individuals.
We recognise and appreciate the important work of mental health support workers.