Self-Care Toolkit for Mental Health Professionals

Although self-care is considered necessary for improving the well-being of our clients, it is often times forgotten as an equally important tool for mental health professionals. Given the nature of the services we provide, burnout and compassion fatigue are not uncommon consequences in our helping profession. However, when we engage in self-care, we are better equipped to handle the stressors that come along with providing emotional support and therapeutic interventions, especially to those in need of trauma-focused care. The toolkit was developed to help Hispanic/Latinx mental health team members and providers make self-care a priority.

This toolkit can be used by psychologists, social workers, counselors, clinic staff, interpreters, outreach workers (promotoras), peer navigators, and other advocates in the community. The content of this toolkit will focus on particular considerations for Hispanic/Latinx mental health professionals working in settings that service Hispanic/Latinx populations, as these providers face additional challenges when taking on the role of cultural and linguistic broker.

This self-care toolkit will increase your awareness of the negative consequences of mental health work and will help you plan self-care activities that align with your values and lifestyle. The toolkit also contains resources to help you measure your levels of stress, identify your values, and select self-care activities to prevent burnout.

Population of Focus: Healthcare Providers

Links to Resources:

• Access the full toolkit
• Learn about provider burnout
• Read the article, Provider Burnout
• Read the article, Caring for Oneself to Care For Others: Physicians and Their Self-Care
• Access the modules, Self Care for Healthcare Workers

Date: 2023