of course you’re stressed! coping with stress, loss and trauma in the workplace dr john gasson...

OF COURSE YOU’RE OF COURSE YOU’RE STRESSED!STRESSED!

Coping with Stress, Loss and Trauma in the Workplace

Dr John GassonMBChB,FCA(SA)LRCP(Edin)LRCS(Edin)LRCP&S(Glasg)

CAPE TOWN

June 5th 2003

REFER TO COMPANY POLICY STATEMENT

What happens when an employee reports stress or a

stress related problem?

Formal assessment conducted by EAP

Develop action plan

What happens when minor

incidents that are assumed to be stress related,

continue to occur? (See Modules 4 and 5)

What happens when a critical incident occurs

that is thought to be stress related? (See Modules 4 and 5)

Structured interview/

intervention conducted by EAP

Employee admits to

problem and requests/agrees to

help

YES OR NO?

Disciplinary action as appropriate, according to company policy Disciplinary action and EAP’s are separate issues that should be addressed concurrently but separately

(See Module 9 on the Legal Framework, especially the Labour Relations Act)

On-site help

Educate on specific stress management strategies

Stress reduction program

Change in stressors Empowerment

(increased job autonomy)

Alternative employment options

(See Modules 7 and 8)

Refer for

Professional Stress Counselling

Psychiatric referral Medical therapy

SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME

YES OR NO?

YES

Reintegration of employee into

work environment with ongoing

monitoring by EAP

YES

EDUCATION AND AWARENESS PROGRAMME

…targeting management and

employees (See Modules 1 to 6

inclusive, plus Module 10 on the

Business Impact, Module 8 on an Organisational

Stress Audit and Appendix 1 on Self-Evaluation)

Company Stress Management Policy and Programme

Development

Stress Prevention Strategies (See Modules 7

and 8)

NO

NO

STRESS MANAGING STRESS IN THE WORKPLACE:

A GUIDE TO USING THE EAP TOOLKIT

REFER TO COMPANY POLICY STATEMENT (See Modules 11 and 12) What happens

when an employee reports a problem

related to loss or trauma?

Formal assessment conducted by EAP Develop action

plan

What happens when minor

incidents that are assumed to be related to

loss and trauma, continue to

occur?

(See Module 5)

What happens when a critical incident occurs that is thought to be related to

loss and trauma?

(See Module 5)

Structured interview/

intervention conducted by EAP (See especially Module 8 on Communication skills)

Employee admits to

problem and requests/agrees to

help

YES OR NO?

Disciplinary action as appropriate, according to company policy Disciplinary action and EAP’s are separate issues that should be addressed concurrently but

separately (See Module 9 on the Legal Framework, especially the Labour Relations Act and the Basic Conditions of Employment, plus

Grants and Pensions if Termination of Employment becomes appropriate)

On-site help (see especially Module 7)

Flexible work

schedules Offers of practical

help Evaluation of

referral source Communication and

coping skills for colleagues and managers

(See Modules 7 and 8)

Refer for

Professional Trauma Counselling

(See Module 7)

Psychiatric referral Medical therapy

(See Module 7)

SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME

YES OR NO?

NO

NO

YES

Reintegration of employee into

work environment with ongoing

monitoring by EAP

YES

EDUCATION AND

AWARENESS PROGRAMME

targeting management

and employees (See Modules 2 to 5 inclusive, plus Module 10 on the Business Impact, and Module 13)

Prevention Strategies

(See Module 6)

Company Loss and Trauma Policy and

Programme Development

(See Modules 11 and 12)

LOSS AND TRAUMA MANAGING LOSS AND TRAUMA IN THE

WORKPLACE: A GUIDE TO USING THE EAP TOOLKIT

STRESSSTRESSA survival response involving the

primitive emotional brain….the limbic system

• Final common pathway….

THE STRESS HORMONES

• Fixed behavioural responses

JOHN GASSON

STRESSSTRESS

SUPERACHIEVER

SUPERPLEASER

AGGRESSIVELY

PASSIVELY

JOHN GASSON

THREE BAD THREE BAD THINGSTHINGS ABOUT

STRESS

THREE GOOD THREE GOOD THINGSTHINGS ABOUT

STRESS

THREE THREE THINGS TO DOTHINGS TO DO ABOUT STRESS

JOHN GASSON

• It makes you behave like an idiot

STRESSSTRESS

Three Bad Things

JOHN GASSON

• It makes you behave like an idiot

• It makes you ill

STRESSSTRESS

Three Bad Things

JOHN GASSON

• It makes you behave like an idiot

• It makes you ill

• It turns you into an idiot

STRESSSTRESS

Three Bad Things

JOHN GASSON

STRESSSTRESS

Three Good Things

It keeps you alive

JOHN GASSON

Performance

Apathy Boredom

Anxiety Terror

Stress

Underload Optimal Overload

stress

JOHN GASSON

THE STRESS CONTINUUMTHE STRESS CONTINUUM

STRESSSTRESS

Three Good Things

It keeps you alive

It keeps you focused

JOHN GASSON

STRESSSTRESS

Three Good Things

It keeps you alive

It keeps you focused

It can be fun

JOHN GASSON

STRESSSTRESS

THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF STRESS

HORMONES

JOHN GASSON

STRESSSTRESSTHREE THINGS TO DO ABOUT

IT

R ECOGNISE IT

A TTITUDE CHANGE

M OBILISE

JOHN GASSON

STRESSSTRESSTHREE THINGS TO DO ABOUT

IT

R ECOGNISE IT

JOHN GASSON

STRESSSTRESSTHREE THINGS TO DO ABOUT

IT

R ECOGNISE IT

A TTITUDE CHANGE

Explore your options

JOHN GASSON

CORPORATE ATTITUDE CORPORATE ATTITUDE CHANGESCHANGES

STRESS LEVELS

Cognitive evaluation- (personal interpretation)

Feelings ofcompetency

Availability ofsocial supports

Control over own

destination

Predictability ofstressful events

JOHN GASSON

STRESSSTRESSTHREE THINGS TO DO ABOUT

IT

R ECOGNISE IT

A TTITUDE CHANGE

M OBILISE

JOHN GASSON

STRESSSTRESSA PERSONAL ACTION PLAN

R ECOGNISE IT

A TTITUDE CHANGE

M OBILISE

JOHN GASSON

QUESTIONS?

Of course I’m stressed ?

JOHN GASSON

STRESSSTRESSSUMMARY

STRESS AFFECTS YOUR BUSINESS

STRESS CAN BE SERIOUS

START A PERSONAL ACTION PLAN NOW!

JOHN GASSON

STRESSSTRESS

PERSONAL ACTION PLANPERSONAL ACTION PLAN

R ECOGNISE IT

A TTITUDE CHANGE

M OBILISE

JOHN GASSON

EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS