6 Years Working in Mental Health. What Have I Learnt About MY Own Mental Health?
This year marks me 6 years working in mental health.
In one of my first full-time mental health job, I got to teach art to adults with severe and complex mental health issues: Schizophrenia, Bipolar, PTSD etc
I was able to combine my love for art and mental health into one.
But on reflection, what have I learnt about MY own mental health?
1. Be Careful of Getting Compassion Fatigue
I worked one year in my government job as a Lived Experience Peer Worker and I got burnt out and got compassion fatigue. I wasn’t filling my cup and putting others' wellbeing in front of me. And with that, I got burnt out and got compassion fatigue. Now that I have reduced my hours in this government job to part-time, I feel better emotionally and mentally. Because working full time in mental health is not easy. And I wouldn’t wish Compassion Fatigue on anyone. But overall, this was a learning experience for me.
2. The Power of Listening
As a Peer Worker, I listen to people. Before talking and giving advice straight away, the power of listening is underestimated. I am a Peer Worker who actively listens and I provide a shared mutual understanding to the people I support. I am non-clinical and don’t give advice around medications or diagnose someone. Listening to someone goes a long way. Sometimes all the other person need is someone who’s good at listening. To meet them where they at. And don’t judge them.
3. I Become More Emotionally and Mentally Stronger
I haven’t always been this strong emotionally and mentally. But in the past years, I noticed my emotional and mental resilience. Like for example, you might have seen my Blog Post about finding out that I have also Schizo-affective Disorder and I don’t give a damn. It’s just another label. And I can shift my thoughts around the negativity around new diagnoses. I feel a lot of people don’t know what/how to deal with new mental health diagnoses. Some let the diagnosis identify and consume them. But not me. I am strong and it’s a just a label.
Photo Credits:
Suzanne wearing Mestiza Filipina and photo taken by Matt Grehan