By Sharen Barboza, PhD, CCHP-MH, Chair of the NCCHC Foundation Board

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and according to Mental Health America, this year the theme is “Turn Awareness into Action.”  Over the next month, we should take time to acknowledge the importance of mental health and move toward concrete actions that improve mental health.  The NCCHC Foundation has taken up this pledge by bringing awareness to the mental health of the professionals working within our prisons, jails, youth facilities, and detention centers. Behind the walls, mental health and medical professionals work tirelessly to address the needs of a vulnerable population often living with untreated, undertreated, or undiagnosed conditions. Mental health and medical professionals work in facilities that were not designed to provide the volume of health and mental health services our patients require, staffing ratios which do not support the delivery of basic services, and custody shortages that can at best, compromise access to care, and at worst, compromise safety.

In the spirit of turning awareness into action, let’s explore strategies for supporting the mental health of correctional mental health and medical staff, who often face immense pressure and stress.

1. Peer Support & Debriefing
   o Provide access to peer support groups and post-incident debriefings.
   o Give yourself and others the space and time needed to work through dangerous and traumatic events.
   o Advocate for formal de-briefing services for staff
2. Access to Mental Health Resources
   o Offer confidential counseling (EAP), mental health days, and easy access to support.
   o Provide support to those around us with mental health conditions the same way we support those with physical health conditions.
3. Trauma-Informed & Resilience Training
   o Deliver training on trauma, stress management, and self-care tailored for corrections.
   o Remain aware and promote awareness of the fact that trauma has an impact on how we see the world and how we navigate our lives. Providing individuals with choice and validating emotional experiences are steps we can take with everyone, every day.
4. Leadership & Communication
   o Ensure leadership visibly supports staff well-being and encourages open dialogue about stress.
   o Leadership should support adequate time for breaks and meals to counteract staffing shortages.
5. Workload & Safety
   o Advocate for adequate staffing, flexible scheduling, and safe environments.
   o Make environments safer by promoting respect, open communication, and reality-based solutions to workload challenges.
6. Recognition & Community
   o Acknowledge staff contributions and build a supportive team culture.
   o Practice gratitude and openly acknowledge when things go right, routinely.
7. Ongoing Assessment
   o Regularly survey staff and adapt programs based on feedback.

Let us continue to advocate for holistic, compassionate care for everyone…our patients and ourselves!