Research Triangle, North Carolina – The economic chaos in the United States has birthed a wholly new set of problems: suicide, homelessness, depression, domestic abuse, and a rise in crime.
The instability of financial markets, housing and employment is leaving a swath of destruction in its wake. Fear and uncertainty are trickling down to the family and the workplace. As the nation’s financial woes escalate, mental health hotlines, counseling services and domestic violence shelters are brimming.
Deborah Dunn, a nationally known marriage and family therapist says the economic crisis is taking its toll. “It is difficult for employers not to get caught up in the fear and panic, especially for those working in financial institutions, building trades or real estate.” Retirement savings are dwindling, health care benefits are shrinking, and the equity people thought they had in their homes is drying up.
Dunn is all too familiar with trauma in the workplace. She is recognized for her expertise as a critical incident-debriefing specialist. An author, speaker and frequent guest on radio and television, Dunn handled debriefing of personnel after the tragic Virginia Tech massacre. Her work with the Army Corp of Engineers after hurricane Katrina served dozens of people suffering the aftereffects of the devastation.
Dunn debriefs employees after major traumas such as robberies, rape, suicide, murder, accidents or sudden deaths. She teaches disaster mental health through Community in Crisis (www.communityincrisis.org)
, a nonprofit outreach program that helps communities and individuals rebuild their lives when disaster strikes.
During debriefings, Dunn says, “Many company executives and HR personnel express to me that they feel a sense of helplessness, guilt or paralysis when tragedy hits.” She says that lack of knowledge combined with improper protocol leaves many people confused about what to do or how to act. “When people don’t know what to do, they often do nothing,” says Dunn. Whether it’s a death in the workplace, a downsizing, or a tragic incident on the assembly line, management often just send people back to work. The result can lead to increased anxiety, hostility, illness or higher rates of turnover. In extreme cases, explains Dunn, it can lead to workplace violence.
Chronic stress at work and the inability to express grief appropriately are factors directly related to an increase in domestic violence, substance abuse, child neglect, divorce, and crime. “If an event is sudden,” says Dunn, “especially if it happens with little or no warning, (accident, shooting, bombing, and tornado) the likelihood of a traumatic stress reaction increases dramatically.” Post traumatic stress disorder is usually characterized by a number of debilitating symptoms such as an inability to sleep, panic attacks, depression, and a recurrent reliving of the event without relief. To Dunn and other critical incident specialists, early intervention is often the key that keeps one tragedy from escalating into even greater disaster.
While immediate attention after a traumatic event is essential, Dunn teaches self-care and awareness tips that relieve stress and anxiety and restore health after an emotional blow. Dunn encourages companies and teams to create what she refers to as “a culture of compassion.” By giving employees and management the tools needed to navigate a crisis, they are far more ready to handle difficulties at home or on the job. “This culture allows workers to grieve, share, express their fears and feelings openly,” explains Dunn.
In the case of a death, a culture of compassion affirms their loss, honors the life of the person or persons who have been lost, and validates the importance of the work experience while keeping disruption of the workflow at a minimum. Increasingly, companies recognize the mental health needs of their staff as an essential ingredient that links employee performance and care without invading the privacy of the individuals.
To schedule an interview or consultation with Deborah Dunn contact Veritas Communications: 719-275-7775