Among the public health impacts associated with the COVID pandemic, a general increase in stress and mental health issues has emerged in its wake. At your schools; staff, students, and parents have likely been affected by a lack of socialization, economic difficulties, grief, fear, long-term illness, or uncertainty. Many of you are also dealing with staff shortages, which place increased burdens on your available employees, and the resulting stress may sometimes lead to a rise in injuries and illnesses.
This is especially true in Special Education; where maintaining adequate staffing, even prior to the pandemic, was a struggle. Most educators working in Special Education find it immeasurably rewarding, but it is not without its challenges. These dedicated staff members develop strong attachments to their students. Working with students that have medical issues that can potentially deteriorate, can certainly pull at the heartstrings. It can also be physically exhausting to assist students that are not ambulatory or that need assistance with everyday tasks. Adapting situations for students with behavioral issues may be taxing both physically and emotionally.
To help your team better cope with the stresses in this current environment, it is important to constructively break down any stigma about mental health. While mental illness has been recognized as being as impactful as any other medical condition, prior opinions and prejudice are still present. You can lead your workplace mental health efforts by communicating supportively about the resources available to assist those who are struggling. Encourage early treatment before stresses build into a crisis. Employees who reach out for help must be able to do so confidentially and without fear that they will face negative consequences.
"Lead your workplace mental health efforts by communicating supportively about assistance resources."
Your supervisory and management staff take on the essential roles of conducting effective stress management, while eliminating potential barriers for employees seeking mental health treatment. Your entire team needs to be trained on the importance of mental health hygiene and its long-term value in enhancing employee wellness and productivity.
Keenan’s Loss Control Services has developed several resources to help schools and their students and staff, including the Special Education Academy (seven Special Education-specific training modules), the Comprehensive Injury Prevention Program, stress management training, Keenan SafeSchools courses, consulting services, and more.
It takes a person with an extraordinary personality to work in the Special Education environment and Keenan is here to support and celebrate these amazing employees.