Supporting Social Work Colleagues Coping with Grief
by Dr. Veronica L. Hardy, LCSW
The coronavirus and its multiple strains have had a significant impact on our lives. Unfortunately, that impact has included experiences of grief and loss, as well as prolonged stress, even in the lives of social workers. Although the pandemic has created an unrelenting effect, this has also been compounded by unexpected losses related to health issues, tragic accidents, and even natural disasters. Mental Health America describes loss, especially the loss of a loved one, as “life's most stressful event.” Loss is uniquely defined by the individual and can take on many forms, including loss of hopes, loss of employment, or even loss of life. Grief refers to an individual’s distinctive reaction to loss.
As social workers, what are ways we can support each other during emotionally challenging and chronically stressful experiences? The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics encourages us to engage in self-care through the statement, “Social workers should take measures to care for themselves professionally and personally.” By what means can we become part of the self-care support system for each other during experiences of grief and loss? Below are three ways to help during a fellow social worker’s grieving process.
1. Realize the impact of loss and the role of culture.
One way is to realize the impact of the loss and the role of culture on your colleague’s grieving process. The NASW Code of Ethics Social Worker’s Ethical Responsibility to Clients notes the following in Standard 1.05: “Social workers should demonstrate understanding of culture and its function in human behavior and society, recognizing the strengths that exist in all cultures.” However, this can also be extended to colleagues. At times, we may seek to respond to a person’s loss based upon our own unique grieving practices, such as unexpected visits, providing the person with the kind of food we would eat, or sending cards referring to a certain type of spirituality. These are certainly acts of kindness; however, it is important to provide support through the lens of cultural humility and ways that respect the diversity of grief responses. For example, seek to understand the person’s spiritual practices, if any, in relation to grief, types of food that could be delivered, times of day to visit, types of cards to send, and so forth.
2. Provide active support without overstepping boundaries.
Another step is to determine whether there are ways you can provide active support without overstepping boundaries. For example, are there certain tasks you can complete that would ease overwhelm? This may include helping your colleague with work-related responsibilities such as filling in for them during a meeting, serving as a substitute for one of their courses if they teach, or even temporarily helping to write the monthly newsletter the person may oversee. Further, the Canadian Association of Social Workers provided a webinar via YouTube titled “Chronic Stress, Moral Injury and Grief: Personal and Professional Strategies for Social Workers” with presenter Charlene Richard, MSW. This webinar provides applicable insights about strategies to respond to varying forms of grief and how to build supports in response. There are many ways to aid a colleague in the workplace. Providing support with tasks can help in alleviating stress and overwhelm.
3. Explore sustainable ways to respond to grief within the profession and immediate work environment.
Forms of loss may take place in both the personal and professional environments, such as the loss of clients to death by suicide or even the loss of a colleague. As a result, an additional method of support is to explore sustainable ways to respond to grief within the profession and immediate work environment. For example, fellow social worker Deidre Silas was fulfilling the role of child welfare worker and conducted a welfare check on children in a home within a local community. Sadly, an adult male in the home took Silas’ life through stabbing. As a result, the National Association of Social Workers is advocating for legislation that promotes the health and safety of social workers. To learn more, visit the NASW news release titled NASW Mourns Death of Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Investigator Deidre Silas. What can your workplace do to help support colleagues coping with grief?
Grief, loss, and prolonged stress have been significant during the coronavirus pandemic. Social workers are essential, frontline professionals coping with challenging emotional experiences both personally and professionally. As a result, determining ways to support each other shows intentional efforts to promote well-being of colleagues. We can all become part of the self-care support system for colleagues coping with forms of grief and loss.
Dr. Veronica L. Hardy, LCSW, is a Professor of Social Work at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Dr. Hardy is a social justice advocate, professional consultant, author, and mentor to new social workers and junior faculty members. She is the creator of The Social Work Lounge, a mentorship group facilitated via Facebook.