Peer Support as a Path to Enhanced Well-being
摘要
Sarah Lapenta-H’s chapter highlights one program that uses evidence-based practices to cultivate differentiated unity, offers trauma-informed spiritual care, and attends to socially unacceptable emotions. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare systems were choosing profitability over healthcare workers’ well-being, leading to their being labeled as “second victims.” Many were experiencing burnout, depression, suicide, as well as vicarious trauma. They were resigning due to lack of systemic support, and the pandemic conditions only magnified healthcare workers’ negative experiences. While these and other psychological harms can be mitigated by processing stressors and negative experiences, healthcare workers are generally prohibited by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act from discussing their experiences outside of work and are limited from processing them during work due to healthcare time constraints and healthcare system demands for return on investment. One intervention that satisfies these limitations is appropriate peer and social support. Global research shows that peer support helps improve healthcare workers’ well-being and that social support in general is a protective factor in maintaining well-being. Lapenta-H hopes her chapter might provide resources for healthcare workers and those training to work in the field.