Mental Health spotlight: meet the team
There are so many different individuals and occupations that make up our Mental Health team: Psychiatrists, Registered Nurses, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Recreation Therapists, Psychologists, and a Family Physician.
In recognition of Mental Health Week and #GetReal, part of the team is sharing some advice on how they take care of their own mental health, what it’s like working during COVID-19, and naming their feelings. Name it, don’t numb it.
Dr. Marion Malone, Psychiatrist, Chief of Psychiatry
“I joined QCH halfway through the pandemic and it has been challenging trying to adapt to a new hospital at such an unusual time. At the same time, I have been incredibly impressed by the grit and ingenuity of our team and our hospital.
I try to get outdoors, spend time being silly with my toddler, and make time to both vent and celebrate with my husband. I have also rediscovered the power of music to boost my mood and love to blast songs alone in my car on my way to and from the hospital (especially after a busy call shift!)”
#GetReal: I feel sad and grateful.
Sherri Cannon, Clinical Manager Mental Health
“I recently joined QCH, however was working in Mental Health all through the pandemic. It’s been challenging working in MH during COVID. In the beginning there was the fear and uncertainty from staff along with the constantly changing hospital protocols and policies. As a leader it was expected that I would have all the answers, however it was often the case that I would be finding out information at the same time as the staff. As the months went on things improved as the protocols became more routine and we settled into an uneasy comfort level with COVID. I focussed my leadership around transparency, honesty, and empathy and I found this really worked well with my staff as we navigated waters we had never journeyed before.
How do I take care of my own mental health? With all the restrictions we keep facing on social activities and recreation, I try to focus on small things that I find joy in. For example, taking my dogs for a walk, tending my garden, and hiking. When I am doing these activities I make sure that I take time to be “in the moment” and I practice mindfulness. It’s amazing how much relaxation and contentment you can find in calming your mind and just allowing yourself to “be.” This is what I have found to be most beneficial.”
#GetReal: I feel grateful. I am grateful I am healthy, that I am able to come to work everyday and not have to work from home (I find that working outside the home reduces the feelings of social isolation), and that I have not been affected as others have with job and business losses.
Lisa Tareen, Social Worker, Inpatient Mental Health
“It has been very stressful and overwhelming to work in MH during COVID. Our patients are suffering due to the social isolation and lock downs. Their normal supports in the community are no longer available to them. This also means that we have very few places that we can refer our patients to after discharge. There are a lot of services online, however not all of our patients have access to online, many are not tech savvy and for many the online services don't meet their needs. We are seeing more and more elders and more and more teens being admitted due to this.
I take care of my mental health through exercise. My exercise time helps me process the difficult days and get pent up emotions out.”
#GetReal: I feel anxious.
Jennie Macintosh, Occupational Therapist, Inpatient Mental Health
“Like so many others, COVID has caused quite a pivot in how I apply my role as an occupational therapist. My go to for motivating clients out of depression was often built around building social connections and roles in the community. There has certainly been an influx of patients experiencing occupational deprivation from role losses as result of the COVID restrictions. As such, I have shifted to build more social connectedness within the patients on the mental health unit to allow opportunity to share each other's experiences and name the feelings that so many of us can relate to. Sometimes this comes out in the structured discussion groups, an outdoor group walk, or even a game of BINGO.
I myself related most to a recent NY Time's article, naming this blah feeling "languishing". But I don't let it be the predominant feeling, I just ride it in waves. I have recently grabbed on to a strategy called "Flavour and Savour." I intentionally pick a moment in my day to act on a value that is important to me, and savour that activity to be fully immersed in it. I don't leave the house without kisses from my 3 boys. My 2 older boys give me a peck as I disrupt them from their video game, but my 4 year old still gives me a full body vibrating squeeze along with a blowfish kiss. Gosh, do I savour that!”
#GetReal: I feel languish.
Payam Noshad, Mental Health Crisis Nurse, Emergency Department
“The MH crisis team in ED significantly relies on community resources. During the pandemic these resources have been cancelled/paused/postponed or are only available virtually. With this significant limitation in community support, our job has become increasingly difficult and overwhelming. On the other hand, my own personal motivation and coping have been decreased, which makes me feel as if I'm working in a low battery mode at all times.
I feel pandemic restrictions have taken away the bright and exciting colors of everyday life. I have turned to the things that matter most in my life and try to make them the highlight of my everyday. I love food, so I have been trying to cook more often and trying new recipes. I'm trying Zoom meetings with my friends and family members outside of my household. One thing that makes me appreciate the most is spending more time with my children at home!”
#GetReal: I feel loss of excitement and enthusiasm in my life, I feel colorless and blah!!
Sara Brazeau, Peer Support Worker, Psychiatric Survivors of Ottawa and QCH
“Working in MH during the pandemic has been challenging but also very rewarding. I have seen an increase in people experiencing depression, anxiety and hospitalization for the first time due to the negative effects of increased isolation, financial struggles and fear of the virus. I am glad that I have been able to continue supporting peers in the hospital during a time when they are often unable to have visitors due to hospital restrictions. I feel fortunate that I have been able to continue to work in the hospital while many of my coworkers have been working from home.
It has been increasingly important to find ways to care for my own mental health while remaining open and empathetic to the peers I am supporting who are going through some of the most difficult times. Until recently, I was also able to spend time supporting peers in the community during weekly walking groups. The social connection I experience as a peer support worker has been as enjoyable and beneficial for me as it has been for my peers. I have found that trying to maintain a daily routine has given my life structure and balance during these uncertain times. I look forward to my morning cup of coffee while I take in the beauty of nature in my backyard, daily exercise on local walking trails, quiet reading time and cooking new recipes.”
#GetReal: I am feeling thankful. I am thankful for the ability to spend more quality time with my kids as they do school from home. I am thankful that I’m able to continue to support my peers in the hospital.
Erica White, Peer Support Worker, Psychiatric Survivors of Ottawa and QCH
“I think that identifying as a peer (someone who has lived experience with something---in this case with mental health struggles) has really helped: Sharing lived experience is what peer support is all about! It is literally part of our job to share our struggles as well as listening to those of other's. It isn't as common with nurses, doctors, etc. to be able to share lived experience/struggles that they may be going through while they are on the job, especially with their patients.
That being said, I think we are all peers right now, in the context of life during the pandemic. We are all going through this phase, as well as the struggles that go along with it. We are sitting in the mud together, so to speak.
Connection has helped me a lot. For the first 6 or so months of the pandemic, Sara and I were pulled from in-hospital work, and our organization, Psychiatric Survivors of Ottawa (PSO) started a phone line system as well as providing virtual recovery groups. While these things were (and still are) instrumental to maintaining connection with peers, it just isn't the same as being in person. Working at home left me feeling like I was languishing. I felt isolated and less functional.
If someone told me two years ago that I would be working from home, I would probably do a cheer. But really, it's a huge challenge. At PSO we often joke about having our "peer support hat" on. This gave me the idea of getting a literal hat, wearing it during my shift, and then taking it off after, as a way of breaking up the parts of my day. This way, it didn't feel so much like everything was blurring together.
Coming back onto the MH unit in September of 2020 was a blessing. Up until the latest government restrictions, we were also doing an outdoor walking group through PSO. Being out in nature helps a lot, as well as seeing familiar faces in person. A lot of our regular members come out to these groups, and I have had the privilege to literally walk by their side as they navigate the world at this time.
Aside from being outdoors, I try to stay well by channeling my creativity. I am most in my flow when I am writing, painting or drawing. I am also a book worm. I try to connect spiritually (mostly through books), and I try to take care of my physical health by walking. Before the restrictions, I had a routine walking date with two friends each Sunday morning. I also enjoy doing "paint nights" with my roommate. We either follow a step-by-step video or do our own thing. Keeping well is a holistic thing to me. I try to take care of body, mind and spirit.
It feels really good to be considered an essential piece of the Mental Health department's "pie" at QCH. I know that Sara and I touch a lot of lives and a lot of lives touch us.”