Module 10 Introduction

Health care Settlement and social service providers' work can be emotionally demanding and highly stressful. To be effective, service providers must consider how this work affects their mental health and well-being. Module 10 focuses on these effects.

This module discusses ways to improve the quality of care and the mental health outcomes of service users from racialized and marginalized populations, and mitigate negative effects on service providers' well-being. It also examines how service providers can experience exhaustion or trauma, and how these can lead to burnout. It explores how boundary issues can occur when service providers face possible conflicts of interest, which can also negatively affect their well-being. The module outlines self-awareness and self-care strategies that can help service providers prevent and manage burnout, compassion fatigue and secondary trauma.

At the end of this module you will be able to

• Describe the importance of self-care when working with immigrants and refugees.
• Define compassion fatigue, burnout and secondary trauma, as well as their common risk factors, signs and symptoms.
• Explain the importance of boundary issues in working with immigrants and refugees.
• Describe self-awareness and self-care strategies as they relate to working with immigrants and refugees.
• Describe the importance of continuing education, lifelong learning and collegial support in working with immigrants and refugees.