workplace environment

1. For many entering the field of mental health, there has been little training in how to
deal with safety issues or workplace violence. During the initial orientation at a
new position, it is important to ask this question to find out what the protocol is in
dealing with crisis situations such as workplace violence. You will want to find out
to keep yourself safe at the office, on home visits or in the community. It is
important to know who to call if you end up in a situation where you are faced with
making decisions regarding a safety issue. It is also important to know how you
will be notified and what the procedure is if there is a safety issue within the
building you are working with another staff member.

2. The mental health field is a wonderful field to work in - the work is challenging and
engaging! Clients lives are transformed through the work that is done between
practitioner and client. That being said, the awareness that this type of work also
comes with risks is important. There are many ways to manage these risks to
reduce or eliminate the potential dangers.

3. This profession has been historically neglectful of mental health workers personal
safety. There are many reasons for this including denial that mental health
workers are at risk, lack of funding for proper staffing, poor evaluation of
workplace environmental settings and limited training of how to manage high risk
clients.

4. According to information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National
Crime Victimization Survey data, workplace violence is a threat for employees in
healthcare and social service settings. One startling statistic noted that between
2011 and 2013, workplace assaults ranged from 23,540 and 25,630 annually, with
70 to 74% occurring in healthcare and social service settings.

5. There are many more instances where
mental health workers are physically
assaulted but survive. As a profession,
there is a need to be more proactive then
reactive in evaluating how to keep staff
safe in their working environments.

6. In order to serve clients well, it is our collective professional responsibility to create
and maintain a safe environment for ourselves, our staff and our clients.

7. In order to serve clients well, it is our collective professional responsibility to create
and maintain a safe environment for ourselves, our staff and our clients.