Trauma and Grief Support: How to Prepare For This Challenging Career

Mental health awareness is rarely out of the news these days - thanks partly to high profile names such as William, Prince of Wales in the UK but, for every step forward, it seems new problems emerge. Life for many people today is busy and stressful and, in fact, a recent Gallup poll revealed that a significant number of American adults have had concerns about their physical and mental health in the past decade.

This, of course, was not helped by the world being plunged into the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and all the anxiety that this caused. Although grief and trauma don’t recognise relationship status, there is clear evidence that these things take their toll to a huge extent in women.

This ever-evolving situation means that there is a greater need than ever for dedicated mental health therapists, social workers and medical professionals and, in this article, we’re looking at some of the requirements and challenges of these vital professions.

Inculcating Resilience Through Self-Introspection

In trauma and grief-support roles, resilience is essential to avoid burnout. That’s because, as you can imagine, mental healthcare settings like clinics or hospices can take a heavy toll on nurses and social workers.

Taking care of those with mental health issues can take a toll on a professional’s own wellbeing too. While marching on the front-line of this challenging sector, many workers will often suffer from what we call “occupational death trauma” for example, in the tragic situation where a patient has taken their own life. If left unchecked, this can lead to a spiral of anxiety, depression and burnout and so a toolbox full of self-protection and resilience skills is needed here.

Although easier said than done, this does mean that professionals need to learn to gain distance and perspective to protect themselves from what they’re experiencing with patients, This can involve switching “why” for “what” - i.e. what is it about this that is affecting me so deeply rather than why am I feeling this way? When choosing the vocation of a mental health worker, objectivity and subjectivity must go hand in hand to protect yourself and to remain grounded and effective.

Grounding Yourself in Academic Theories

We’ve talked about skills such as empathy and objectivity, so what has academia got to do with this type of vocation? Quite a lot, actually. Let’s take the example of the Covid-19 pandemic. Over the course of around a year, we discovered that many mental health systems and processes were massively ill-equipped to deal with the fallout which ranged from sorrow and despair to anger and terror.

This was further compounded by people being unable to say goodbye to their loved ones in traditional ways – even being unable to attend a funeral service. A study by Applied Psychology found that many healthcare professionals simply did not have the knowledge or the mindset to deal with such an astonishing range of issues including the interruption of the normal processes of dealing with grief - and this is where academic training comes in.

Some places now offer hybrid MSW programs that equip learners with social work skills based on healthcare or behavioural issues. These programs provide a solid academic foundation which strengthens understanding of the complex subjects involved.

In the “olden days” mental health care was much simpler - but this is because it would often be shrouded in ignorance. A recent study by the University of the Pacific reveals that now, in our more enlightened days, professionals need to factor in advocacy skills which requires a grasp of diversity and social justice. An example of this might be the way in which attitudes have changed toward miscarriage. Rather than the old- fashioned “just get on with it” stance, we now recognise the deep trauma caused by the loss of a child and the Equalities Committee have responded by pushing for paid leave for victims.



Similarly, we’re now more able to recognize the unique challenges faced by women of colour – and this of course affects the way we approach treatment. All of this is very much a step away from Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s assertion that grief has five neat little stages but is rather a fluid and ever-changing condition. Part of this learning comes from the pandemic and from events like the L.A. wildfires in which trauma and grief are shape-shifting creatures that rarely conform to rules in the face of loss, rage and terror.

Technology as an Ally, Not a Substitute

Many young adults now actively use AI tools for therapy. These tools act as their companions and sounding boards, supporting them without judgment.  And they’re often the preferred choice simply because they don’t involve the stigma of seeking help from a human therapist.

Advanced technology such as AI is now creeping into every nook and cranny of our world, including healthcare - but that doesn’t always mean that it’s a good thing. This technology can be a fabulous tool which can lighten the load of busy professionals but it can also bring with it a whole ‘nother set of problems. To begin with, many healthcare workers live in constant fear that some of this new kit will effectively make them redundant.

On top of that, The Guardian recently ran a piece on the dangers of relying on AI therapy tools for self-diagnosis and emotional support rather than seeking out a professional diagnosis. In extreme cases, this can make symptoms much worse in patients.

The key to harnessing the power of these tools is to use them as you would any other piece of equipment - a helpmate rather than a replacement. For example, these can be really effective when running training or workshops virtually - but only when conducted by real people with the skills and empathy that the machines are simply not capable of.



As our world, and our technology, evolve, this brings with it many benefits but it also creates new and interesting problems. In an increasingly fast-paced environment, many people struggle with stress and anxiety in ways that are constantly changing - and this can be challenging for any practitioner. Coping with this huge responsibility requires professionals to be able to adapt and to balance academic training with greater understanding of new world problems.