Steering Through Bouncing Back

1. Steering Through Bouncing Back bolstering resilience against stress & burnout in schools Helen Murphy Psychologist The Working Edge Pty Ltd August 2005

2. Steering Through Bouncing Back What is it? • “Stress” “An internal state which results from demanding, frustrating or unsatisfying conditions” NSW/ACT IEU 2002 • “Occupational Stress” “harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker” NIOSH 1999 • Experience varies(between/within people) • Acute Stress(trauma) vs Burnout(“battle fatigue”) “physical, emotional, and attitudinal exhaustion that begins with a feeling of uneasiness and mounts as the joy of teaching begins to gradually slip away” Hendrickson 1997

3. Steering Through Bouncing Back Why? Common factors include: • Difficult student-teacher interactions issues with behaviour, motivation, respect, communication, … • Difficult parent-teacher interactions • Time pressures workload, deadlines, paperwork, … • Role conflict differing philosophies, administrative demands, … • Poor working conditions class sizes, resources, facilities, noise, isolation, … • Lack of control & decision making power • Lack of collegiate trust & cooperation • Feelings of personal inadequacy lack of training/competence, inadequate praise/recognition, … • Career issues limited tenure, career prospects • Extra-organisational stressors negative community attitudes personal issues

4. Steering Through Bouncing Back What Happens? • Emotional • irritability, nervousness • sadness, anger, guilt • worthlessness, hopelessness, helplessness • anxiety, depression, panic • Behavioural • agitation • aggressiveness • impulsiveness • avoidance or withdrawal • substance misuse • Cognitive • reduced concentration • impaired decision making • pessimistic/negative thinking patterns • Physiological • excessive fatigue • sleep/appetite disturbance • high blood pressure • headaches • palpitations

5. Steering Through Bouncing Back negative emotions how we sometimes see it how we want the world to be negative thoughts

6. Steering Through Bouncing Back Consequences Can include • Reduced effectiveness in: • lesson organisation • behaviour management • responsiveness to students • relationships with parents • managing conflict … • Reduced self-confidence/self esteem • Work/job withdrawal  commitment, absenteeism • Impaired health • Impacts on home life, family, leisure, ... • Loss of skilled staff Resignation, premature retirement • Impacts on staff morale … Low morale predicts occupational stress

7. Steering Through Bouncing Back Coping Strategies Palliative reducing the impact of the stressor • Substance use • Avoidance • Health bolstering • Regular exercise • Hobbies • Enjoyable activities • Relaxation • Social Support Direct Action dealing with the source of stress • Taking action to deal with problems • Seeking support from others at work • Working on being more competent • Time management

8. Steering Through Bouncing Back Resilience in Teachers • Sense of Agency : Self-efficacy • Degree of control over what happens to them (vs fatalism, helplessness) • Ability todepersonalise or externaliseunpleasant or difficult events • Choosing not to see the event as their fault • Learning from it & moving on vs agonising over failings • Seeking to understand motivation or circumstances • Learning from others how not to take things personally • Strongmoral purpose • moderated by realistic expectations, & • choice in taking on hard tasks/classes • Strong Support Groups • Colleagues and school leadership • Family and friends outside • Competence & Sense of Achievement • Pride in achievement and a sense of competence in areas of personal importance.

9. Steering Through Bouncing Back Tips for supporting school staff • Listen, acknowledge, validate • ask what will make it better • do something / encourage appropriate direct action • consider areas for skill development • Don’t play the blame game (clarify/separate roles) • Focus on • areas of control & efficacy , competencies & strengths • sense of purpose (outside of themselves) • opportunities to learn and move forward • Give permission / priority to self-care (insist!) • Encourage effective coping strategies • Exercise, diet, relaxation • Positive social interactions & support • Pleasant/engaging activities • Refer for expert support • Counselling (EAP), doctor, rehabilitation • Stay in touch! • Support and monitor • Consult on issues such as RTW, triggers, confidentiality • Don’t go it alone! Attend to your own needs

10. Steering Through Bouncing Back How can counselling help? • Assessment • emotional and psychological functioning • presence & severity of anxiety, depression, etc • Client-centred active listening • Defusing and debriefing • Validation, making sense, gaining perspective • Evidence-based cognitive strategies • Focussing on what can be changed • Observing and changing thoughts and behaviours • Skill development • Sleep Strategies (Hygiene) • Relaxation • Mindfulness • Resilience • Emotional management (anger, panic, etc) • Communication • Time management • Happiness skills! • Support for RTW, career planning, …