Being able to make a positive impact is what makes working in a public service field so special. From the school social worker keeping a group of at-risk teens on track to graduate, to the rookie cop protecting the neighborhood she grew up in, to the critical care nurse pulling a double shift during a healthcare crisis, public service professionals represent the best in all of us. Yet this same capacity and desire to do good often comes at the cost of mental health and wellness. Being overworked, dealing with life-and-death situations, and concerns over funding are just a few of the triggers that can lead to serious issues like compassion fatigue, burnout, and traumatic stress. And when symptoms do arise, it can be hard to ask for help when you’re the one who usually provides it.
This guide explores mental health issues that public service professionals are most at risk for, the common stressors that cause them, and solutions and resources to get well. While this guide is not meant to (and should not) replace professional medical advice, it can help serve as a starting point for understanding and dealing with the mental health challenges of being in a helping career.
Warning Signs Your Mental Health May Be in Jeopardy
No matter which field of public service you work in, it’s critical to recognize the early warning signs that you may have or may develop a serious mental health issue because of on-the-job experiences.
- Increased reliance on alcohol or illicit substances
- Sudden lack of interest in work or changes in job performance
- Being exposed to someone who took their own life
- A recent traumatic event witnessed in the line of duty
- Drawing away from others in their unit or department
- Stressful life events that contribute to compassion fatigue at work
- Family history of mental health issues
- Increased health issues, including headaches or anxiety/depression
- Withdrawal from those you once cared about/interacted with
- Problems sleeping or showing up to work late
- Higher blood pressure
- Viscerally unsettling dreams
- Unusual outbursts of anger and an inability to vocalize the problem
Examining Common Stressors in the Public Service Field
Rather than discussing public service stressors as a whole, it’s more useful to look at causes of stress for individual careers and sectors. A firefighter may experience very different types of compassion fatigue than a teacher, while a government worker may be far more affected by a newly enacted federal or state policy. Here’s a closer look at common stressors for professionals in working in popular public service sectors and solutions for improving mental wellness.
Criminal Justice & Homeland Security
Individuals in this field hold titles such as border patrol agent, police officer, and correctional officer. They work for police departments; local, state, and federal government agencies; emergency response companies; and nonprofit organizations.
Common Stressors
- Being placed in life-and-death situations such as shootings and domestic/international terrorist attacks
- Working with individuals routinely facing issues of assault and domestic violence
- Witnessing children who have been physically, emotionally, or sexually abused
- Receiving intelligence regarding potential threats and planned attacks
- Never knowing when you’ll be called to a serious crime or attack in progress
- Concern over funding for your job/department
Solutions for Better Mental Health & Wellness
Fire Safety
Working in fire safety means you probably have a title such as firefighter, fire investigator, fire prevention specialist, or forest fire mitigation specialist. Many of these professionals work at firehouses, but they may also be employed by local/state governments or environmental groups.
Common Stressors
- Concern over fire prevention and increased fire incident rates due to a warming planet
- Lack of proper training given to individuals when fires do break out
- Never knowing what your next call may require
- Witnessing loss of life and/or severe burns to those affected by fires
- Seeing individuals and families lose their homes and all their possessions
- Long, intense shifts
- The rise of wildfires across the world
Solutions for Better Mental Health & Wellness
Healthcare
Medical and healthcare jobs range from entry-level positions such as medical assistant and licensed practical nurse to advanced roles such as pharmacist, physician, and advanced practice registered nurse. These professionals work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, long-term care facilities, and local, state, and federal governments.
Common Stressors
- Exposure to infectious diseases
- Lack of necessary medical supplies
- Insufficient legislation around medical and/or pharmaceutical services
- Understaffing and heavier patient loads, resulting in less-than-ideal shifts
- Unrealistic expectations from patients, their families, and supervisors
- Trouble leaving a hard day at work vs. bringing it home
- Watching patients go through painful and sometimes life-ending experiences
- Lack of social and managerial support at work
Solutions for Better Mental Health & Wellness
Psychology & Counseling
Professionals working in this field hold titles such as psychologist, mental health counselor, marriage and family therapist, and school counselor. They may work in private practice, at a hospital or clinic, for a social services agency, or in a school setting, among others.
Common Stressors
- An overwhelming amount of insurance and other types of paperwork for each client
- Helping others handle traumatic, stressful, or damaging life experiences on a daily basis
- Finding a therapist who specializes in working with others in the psychology and counseling professions
- Too large of a caseload
- Feeling isolated from other practitioners
- Managing personal issues outside of professional ones
- Keeping up with continuing education requirements around licensing when life gets busy
Solutions for Better Mental Health & Wellness
Public Health & Administration
Common titles in this area of work include public health administrator, epidemiologist, pandemic specialist, and immunologist. They often work for public health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control or at hospitals, research facilities, laboratories, health departments, and universities. Unlike medical professionals who experience acute stress from their work, public health officials tend to fall in the chronic stress category.
Common Stressors
- A sudden influx of work and pressure due to unexpected outbreaks (e.g., the COVID-19 coronavirus)
- Feelings of hopelessness when the world is looking to you for answers that cannot be given at this time
- Trying to get adequate funding from local, state, and federal government
Solutions for Better Mental Health & Wellness
Social Work
Social workers specialize in many different areas, including mental health and substance abuse, child and family, social and human services, and healthcare. They work in hospitals, schools, social service centers, inpatient programs, and in private practice.
Common Stressors
- Providing counsel to clients dealing with issues of abuse, neglect, violence, death, and suicidal ideation
- Large caseloads due to inadequate staffing
- Lack of funding
- Keeping up with required paperwork and documentation for each case
- Finding appropriate services and resources to connect clients with based on their individual needs
- Seeking out funding for necessary services and programming
- Existing in a stressful work environment with high turnover due to burnout
Solutions for Better Mental Health & Wellness
Teaching & Education
Common titles in this field include teacher, instructional coordinator, principal, and admissions coordinator. These professionals work in K-12 schools, colleges and universities, school boards, and state, local, and government education departments.
Common Stressors
- Keeping up with lesson planning
- Preparing students for standardized tests/making sure they cover enough content
- Handling difficult and/or demanding parents or those who are not engaged
- Shifting education policies that change the workload
- Keeping up with grades and marking
- Dealing with behavior management issues
- Being moved to a different grade or subject area
- Unannounced observations
- Adjusting to new curricula
- Handling conflict or disagreements with fellow teachers or school administrators
- Maintaining a work-life balance
Solutions for Better Mental Health & Wellness
Law
Common titles include public defender, district attorney, pro-bono lawyer, public interest attorney, and legal aid administrator. These individuals often work for legal aid organizations or clinics, nonprofit organizations, law firms, and governmental agencies.
Common Stressors
- Lawyers working in family and criminal law often see the highest levels of compassion fatigue due to witnessing the trauma associated with these populations
- Lack of resources and support, making it seem difficult to adequately defend or represent clients
- Continual feelings of being overwhelmed or emotionally exhausted
- Feelings of cynicism and pessimism
- Abuse of alcohol or other self-medicating acts
- Feeling demoralized when cases do not go your way
Solutions for Better Mental Health & Wellness
A Closer Look at Compassion Fatigue & Related Mental Health Issues
Also known as vicarious traumatization or secondary trauma, compassion fatigue is the manifestation of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that results from dealing with traumatic situations or traumatized people. People in any of the helping professions are particularly susceptible because of their day-to-day involvement with emergency incidents, stories of despair or loss, and other emotionally-taxing situations.
Those suffering from compassion fatigue exhibit characteristics of being indifferent and emotionally withdrawn, and they lose empathy for those they care for or others who need help. It’s important to remember that compassion fatigue can occur after a single exposure to a traumatic circumstance or can build up after repeated exposures.
Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue
- Trouble getting undisturbed sleep
- Impaired judgment and behavior
- Feelings of existential despair
- Depression and/or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Isolating behaviors
- Increased emotions
- Changes in worldview or beliefs
- New feelings of anger
- Self-contempt
- Emotional exhaustion
- Newfound chronic physical symptoms
Solutions for Better Mental Health & Wellness
Compassion Fatigue vs. Burnout vs. Primary Traumatic Stress
Because these terms often get used interchangeably, understanding the differences is important to improving your mental health and understanding your needs. Carefully review the definitions of each term below to find which one you identify with most.
Burnout
Though commonly confused, compassion fatigue and burnout are unique. Burnout refers to issues around increased amounts of work and stress about employment but is not connected to traumatic events. Burnout can typically be remedied more easily than compassion fatigue if caught early. Examples of burnout in the public service sector include teachers or social workers who experience burnout due to impossible workloads that never seem to end or nurses who experience burnout from working double shifts.
Compassion Fatigue
As noted previously, compassion fatigue varies from burnout in that it results in more physical and mental health symptoms. Someone with burnout may feel tired or angry, while those with compassion fatigue are more likely to feel a sense of sadness or grief, deal with addiction issues, and employ avoidance techniques. Firefighters may experience compassion fatigue when dealing with endless wildfires. Social workers may experience compassion fatigue when supporting clients with traumatic home lives.
Primary Traumatic Stress
Compassion fatigue is commonly known as secondary traumatic stress as it comes from the reaction to others’ traumas. Primary traumatic stress refers to traumas experienced directly by an individual. Police officers who witnessed or participated in an armed encounter frequently experience primary traumatic stress, as do healthcare workers who lose patients or firefighters who cannot save individuals in time.
10 Self-Care & Wellness Tips for Public Service Professionals
When working in stressful public service roles, taking time for self-care becomes more important than ever. Stepping back from the workplace to reenergize can improve your mental health and help you rejuvenate for both yourself and those you serve.
1
Step away from social media.
Studies have shown that increased screen time can lead to higher levels of depression. If you feel stressed out from work, try to detox from social media and instead focus on yourself.
2
Rely on your support system.
Reach out to family members and friends regularly to ensure you keep supportive lines of communication active and open. Even a 15-minute chat can help brighten your day.
3
Limit your exposure to news.
Staying up-to-date on what’s happening in the world is important, but too much of a good thing can become a bad thing. Set boundaries around when and how much time you spend reading/listening to the news.
4
Be nice to your body.
When possible, try to eat healthy foods that support brain function and limit alcohol consumption. Try to get outside for a walk at least a couple of times per week.
5
Engage in meditation.
Use one of the many apps now available (such as Calm) to take time to center your breathing and calm your mind.
6
Surround yourself with greenery.
If getting outside regularly doesn’t seem feasible, consider getting a few low-maintenance plants for your home and workspaces. Plants have been shown to reduce anxiety and depression.
7
Do walking meetings.
Rather than staying glued to your desk, suggest a walking meeting near your office. You can move the ball forward with the required tasks while still getting some fresh air.
8
Find a therapist.
Speaking to a professional about the stresses you face in your work and private life can help relieve anxiety while also providing you with actionable coping mechanisms.
9
Advocate for yourself.
If you feel overwhelmed with all the tasks you are expected to complete in a day, speak with your supervisor. Explain the situation and see what they can do to lighten your load.
10
Take advantage of continuing education.
Staying up to date on best practices and changes in your industry can give you the tools needed to respond to work challenges without depleting your compassion stores.
Accessing Therapy and Mental Health Resources as a Public Service Professional
Public service professionals often work on the front lines of making sure others are adequately supported and provided for. Because of this, it’s immensely important they receive support themselves so they can continue to help others.
Why It Can Be Difficult to Seek Help
- Lack of time.
When you feel like you don’t even have time to fulfill all the responsibilities of your job, finding time to access therapy and other mental healthcare services can seem impossible. - Perceived stigma.
If your job is to help others, getting help for yourself may seem like it undermines your qualifications for the work at hand. If you cannot keep yourself healthy, how can you keep others healthy? - Continuous work travel.
Some public servants find themselves traveling nonstop for work, making it seem like they can’t afford to take time away from their home time to indulge in self-care.
- Tight finances.
It’s no secret that many public servants do their jobs because they’re passionate about helping others rather than earning a massive paycheck. It can feel tough making decisions on how to use your small amount of discretionary spending. - Feeling exhausted.
After working a double shift or teaching six classes a day, taking the extra effort to go to the gym or schedule a gym appointment can simply feel too overwhelming. - Lack of community.
Some public servants work in less-than-supporting environments, making it feel difficult to lean on co-workers during rough times.
Solutions for Better Mental Health & Wellness
Mental Health Q&A with a Clinical Psychologist
Kris Boksman
Ph.D., C.Psych
Dr. Kris Boksman, Ph.D., C.Psych. is a clinical psychologist in Kingston, Ontario. She has been providing psychological treatment and consultation for over ten years, with specific expertise in the treatment of depression, trauma, and narcissistic abuse. She is a Certified Brainspotting Therapist. Dr. Boksman owns and directs a mental health clinic called Limestone Clinic.
Why is mental health such an important consideration, specifically for public service professionals?
Different people have different levels of tolerance for uncertainty and concerns about health, and different people are in different situations related to loved ones, demands on their time, childcare responsibilities, and financial issues. Public service professionals are expected to handle these issues, as well as show up for work, or create workspaces in their homes, and be mentally present to continue to serve the public, even with all of the other concerns they are facing. Public service professionals are not always well-understood by those they serve, and the people they serve are stressed out, probably a little less finessed in their approach to interacting with others, and may have a hard time remembering that public service professionals are people, too. It is hard to refuel and keep healthy in a profession where you are helping others for your job, and likely at home.
With so much pressure on them, how can public servants find ways of ensuring they stay mentally strong?
We all need to access mental health resources and carve out time to use them. This is as important as eating or sleeping. Options include meditation, calming self-talk, self-education, social support and encouragement, and accessing professional services. There are many apps, websites, YouTube videos, and even support groups in social media, as well as electronic devices such as neurofeedback units, tens machines, etc. Self-help books are also fantastic ways to learn skills to help to defuse emotional storms.
What are a few quick exercises they can do to regroup and find balance?
Think about how you used to behave in ways that felt good to you when you were a kid. Did you draw, color, skip, play ball, read, swim, etc.? Look to add in any of those activities you can do as a “recharge,” even if just for 20 minutes per day.
Try to add some exercise or physical movement into your day at regular intervals – our bodies are very good at storing distress, and movement is a natural way to dissipate the physical toll that emotional distress has upon us.
Watch a YouTube video that appeals to you about “reframing” (this is how to take a negative thought and work with alternative perspectives that are less upsetting, neutral or fact-based in tone, more helpful, or maybe even positive).
Be patient with yourself. None of us know what works best for us until we try. Ask for professional pointers before things get bad – a problem with stress is easier to help if you take early action before it gets to be a very big problem. We are all in this together, and we can figure it out together.
Public Service Volunteers: Maintaining Wellness While Giving Back
Aside from the millions of paid public service positions in America, countless individuals perform public service through volunteering. Sacrificing your personal time and working on challenging projects to give back can take its toll on your mental health. Here are some quick tips for those taking part in projects such as AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps, Teach for America, and other service positions.
1
Keep your supervisor in the loop.
As this article demonstrates, those who oversee volunteers understand the inevitable stress that comes from being in a new position with limited resources. Try to communicate openly with them and gather suggestions on how to proceed.
2
Check out the AmeriCorps Member Assistance Program.
AmeriCorps members can take advantage of quality mental health care through the MAP program.
3
Access governmental resources.
The Corporation for National and Community Service offers several services, tools, and webinars to help cope with stress and depression.
