Mental Health: An Interview with Karen Schuder

Mental health is an important topic that is receiving more attention every day. Burnout, stress, panic, and navigating change are on the forefront of the news especially among people in helping roles. Creating effective wellness and productivity goals and including strategies that make a real impact is the answer to stronger, more purpose-filled life.

Resilience expert Karen Schuder, EdD, MDiv, MAM, provides the inside report on this crucial topic and shares the trends and background on how sustainable caring is ever-evolving.

Q: Karen, the interest in mental health among people in helping roles has picked up a great deal of momentum in recent years. Can you share some insights on why that is occurring?

A. Our world is in a relentless state of high anxiety. We all feel it. Unless we are proactive it is easy to get caught in a perpetual state of stress. I think many of us acknowledge a need for change, but find it difficult because our society tends to be more reactive than proactive. Also, many organizations we helpers work with create rather than defuse anxiety. High, chronic anxiety paired with exposure to suffering creates a variety of challenges to wellbeing.   

Challenges like burnout and compassion fatigue have been a problem for years. Individuals in personal and professional helping roles have known this, but have had to counter a stigmatism attached to mental health challenges. Hopefully increased awareness will make it easier for people to get help. 

Organizations are more aware of mental health challenges due to a variety of reasons, especially a lack of human resources. A shortfall of resources becomes part of an unhealthy cycle where people are having to do more with less support. Examples include ambulance services requiring fewer medics to cover larger territories and nurses needing to staff extra shifts while taking pay cuts. An environment of scarcity increases risks and loss of personnel. People are more likely to work where they feel supported.  

Q. That’s fascinating. We are also seeing an upswing in daily living habits as a powerful tool. Are they really that important in preventing unforeseen stress and burnout?

A. Yes. We can integrate strategies that increase our ability to handle challenges and live a balanced life. Many activities take little time, but effectively increase inner calm, promote healthy limits, and foster resilience. Daily mindfulness, breathing techniques, and mental imagery are examples. Strategies such as using resources and talking about vulnerabilities require us to step outside of our comfort zone, but can dramatically increase resilience. Personal wellness requires intentionality and self-advocacy. 

Personal wellness is worth the effort, because healthy caregivers provide better care. We need to get beyond seeing self-care and development as selfish. One of the most profound things we can do is identify important values, virtues, and purpose. We decrease anxiety when making decisions based on what is important, rather than worrying about what others will think. We can identify what is and is not ours to carry, while promoting our best, balanced self.   

Q. How do you see organizations responding to this upswing in prioritizing metal health? 

A. Many organizations have offered short-term self-help programs for employees. Lunch hour learning sessions, funds to attend a conference, or an occasional staff party. Such offerings can help, but do not address systemic needs to create more sustainable working environments. Just offering self-help options communicates, “Your struggles are all about you, so get better at self-care.”   People do need to promote personal wellbeing, but just focusing on individuals is unfair and lacks taking responsibility at systemic levels. 

Organizations need to prioritize mental health wellness at all levels. This includes considering wellness in personnel policies and allocating resources. Monthly team resilience meetings, onsite counseling services, fair scheduling, critical incident gatherings, and safe processing of mistakes show organizational investment in employee wellbeing. Companies taking responsibility for their role in employee sustainability are key to improving societal mental health wellness.   

Individuals and organizations working together can promote a healthier world for people in helping roles.   

Q. Tell us a little about why this is a central focus for you in your work? What specifically drew you to develop your approach?  

A. Helping others is one of the most important and difficult things we can do. We caregivers experience the best and the worst the world has to offer. I know what it feels like to drop in bed at night with a million worries swirling in my mind or encounter someone’s criticism after I was kind. I know how wonderful and hard helping others can be. 

We caregivers receive hugs and hold hands with those who were abused. We walk with those who grieve a loss, while carrying our own losses. Our world needs care, but frequent challenges take a toll on caregivers. I want to help people experience the joys of their own journey while walking with others during difficult times.  

I am driven to help caregivers thrive amid the challenges so we can promote a caring society. A combination of research, theories, and experience give my work in Resilient and Sustainable Caring a solid framework for people in personal and professional helping roles. I am excited to help individuals and organizations because I know we can lead healthy lives while helping others in a highly anxious world. 

Q. What is the single most important tool you recommend people incorporate in their daily routines and overall approach to resiliency?

A. Be your best advocate. Know your values, virtues, and purpose. Define who you are by what is important to decrease the influence of anxiety and unfair expectations. Use this as a guide to promote healthy boundaries and your best, balanced self. 

Karen Schuder, EdD, MDiv, MAM, has extensive experience promoting resilience and role sustainability through public speaking and coaching. Years of helping people during traumatic times, leading organizations, and working globally inform her work with people in personal and professional helping roles. Karen offers life-changing concepts and practical strategies with an enjoyable, interactive approach. Check out Resilient and Sustainable Caring: Your Guide to Thrive While Helping Others. Learn more about how to foster a purpose driven culture characterized by resilience, positivity, and decreased anxiety at www.karenschuder.com.