Mental health in the geosciences

[aaarendt]

Lead: Shashank Bhushan, Jessica Scheick Date: 22/08/2024 Start Time: 1100 Duration: 60 Description: A conversation about mental health in the geosciences

Details

### Learning Outcomes * understand the prevalence and types of workplace related mental health challenges currently encountered by geoscientists * learn individual and community-based approaches to create culture change and normalize mental health conversations * learn about available resources to find support when navigating mental health challenges ### People Developing the Tutorial (content creation, helpers, teachers) Shashank Bhushan and Anthony Arendt, with inspiration from related sessions offered by colleagues in Oceanhackweek. ### Summary Description [Recent data](https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/workplace-well-being/index.html#framework) suggest that over 3/4 of people in the U.S. workplace have experienced one or more mental health challenge associated with their workplace. And from our own personal experience, geoscientists face unique challenges in navigating the ups and downs of academic careers, and the grief associated with climate change, among other issues. In this session we will begin a conversation about mental health in the geosciences. We will offer resources and follow a [recent framework created by the US Surgeon General](https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/workplace-mental-health-well-being.pdf). If there is sufficient interest we will plan for continued meetings in an effort to build a community of practice around this topic. This session is optional and we will establish norms that ensure confidentiality for all participants. ### Dependencies (things people should know in advance of the tutorial) We invite participants to arrive with a willingness to share stories and listen to their colleagues. This session is intended to be a no-device session, to ensure a distraction-free, immersive experience for all of us. We request all of the interested particpants to familiarize theselves with some [house keeping rules](link_to_doc.xyz), which will also be provided in printed format during the session. The hackweek team will provide stationary materials to participants for personal note taking! We encourage people from all career-stages to join this session! ### Broad format Respecting everyone's time committment, we have designed this session to be semi-interactive. The session will be a mix of interview-style interaction between Anthony and Shashank, and include small group discussions between participants in break-out rooms/pairs. ### Links to material In this section, we provide our initial curated list of resources. We acknowledge that this list is non-exhaustive, and encourage participants to suggest additional relevant resources with which they are familiar with :) * Institution based mental health support: Many institutions have resources to support students and employees for their mental health needs. Here we provide examples for University of Washington students and employees as reference, but encourage participants for exploring similar resources at their respective institutions. ** Students: All students at the University of Washington have access to same day crisis counselling through the [Husky Helpline](https://wellbeing.uw.edu/huskyhelpline/). More structured support can be accessed through the [peer wellness coaching group](https://livewell.uw.edu/pwc/), [UW Mental health counselling center](https://wellbeing.uw.edu/unit/counseling-center/), and [group therapy programs](https://www.polisci.washington.edu/news/2023/01/19/advertised-groups-winter-2023). Services by the Mental Health Counselling Center are all covered by student insurance (ISHIP or GAIP). We encourage participants to learn more about these resources [here](https://wellbeing.uw.edu/mental-health/mental-health-resources/). ** Faculty/Staff/Postdocs: Faculty and staff can avail short-term, focussed therapy sessions through the Washington State Employee Assistance Program ([WA EAP](https://hr.uw.edu/worklife/employee-assistance-program/)). Everyone enrolled with [PEBB](https://www.hca.wa.gov/pebb-benefits-admins/pebb-benefits#:~:text=The%20Public%20Employees%20Benefits%20Board,Care%20Assistance%20Program%20(DCAP).) is eligible. * Resources for workplace-related mental health issues relevant to geoscientists: ** [Climate Anxiety & Eco-Grief](https://www.drjenniferatkinson.com/) ** [climate pshchiatry alliance](https://www.climatepsychiatry.org/) ** [Workplace mental health and well-being](https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/workplace-well-being/index.html) ** [Work That Reconnects Network](https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/workplace-well-being/index.html) * Participating in supportive communities: Many of us struggle alone and have inhibtations to discuss our feelings because we might fail to identify in the same way as our collagues in the workplace. In these situations, finding communities and groups of scientists whom we can identify with personally, seek mentorship from, and rediscover purpose can be helpful. ** [Association for Women Geoscientits](https://www.awg.org/) ** [Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Geosciences](https://aapigeosci.org/) ** [Polar Impact](https://www.polarimpactnetwork.org/) ** [CryoCommunity](https://cryocommunity.org/) ### Technical Needs (GPUs? Large file storage? Unique libraries?) * Stationary (papers, pencils/pens) * White boards * Round table format furniture setup

[ShashankBice]

Hi Anthony, Based on our discussions, I am pasting here the modified version of the issue you submitted above. Feel free to provide edits/suggestion, and let's discuss how we can move forward with adding this to the website :)

Lead: Shashank Bhushan, Anthony Arendt Date: 22/08/2024 Start Time: 1100 (Example: 0900 for 9AM) Duration: 60 (in minutes) Description:

Details

### Learning Outcomes * understand the prevalence and types of workplace related mental health challenges currently encountered by geoscientists * learn individual and community-based approaches to create culture change and normalize mental health conversations * learn about available resources to find support when navigating mental health challenges ### People Developing the Tutorial (content creation, helpers, teachers) Shashank Bhushan and Anthony Arendt, with inspiration from related sessions offered by colleagues in Oceanhackweek. ### Summary Description [Recent data](https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/workplace-well-being/index.html#framework) suggest that over 3/4 of people in the U.S. workplace have experienced one or more mental health challenge associated with their workplace. And from our own personal experience, geoscientists face unique challenges in navigating the ups and downs of academic careers, and the grief associated with climate change, among other issues. In this session, we will begin a conversation about mental health in the geosciences. We will offer resources and follow a [recent framework created by the US Surgeon General](https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/workplace-mental-health-well-being.pdf). If there is sufficient interest, we will plan for continued meetings in an effort to build a community of practice around this topic. This session is optional, and we will establish norms that ensure confidentiality for all participants. ### Dependencies (things people should know in advance of the tutorial) We invite participants to arrive with a willingness to share stories and listen to their colleagues. This session is intended to be a no-device session to ensure a distraction-free, immersive experience for all of us. We request all interested participants familiarize themselves with some [housekeeping rules](link_to_doc), which will also be provided in printed format during the session. The hackweek team will provide stationery materials to participants for personal note-taking! **We encourage people from all career stages to join this session!** ### Broad format Respecting everyone's time commitment, we have designed this session to be semi-interactive. It will include a mix of interview-style interaction between Anthony and Shashank and small group discussions between participants. ### Links to material In this section, we provide our initial curated list of resources. We acknowledge that this list is not exhaustive and encourage participants to suggest additional relevant resources with which they are familiar:) * Institution-based mental health support: Many institutions have resources to help students and employees with their mental health needs. Here, we provide examples for University of Washington students and employees as a reference, but we encourage participants to explore similar resources at their respective institutions. * Everyone from the UW community have access to [SAFECAMPUS]( https://www.washington.edu/safecampus/) services for immediate crisis management. * Students: All students at the University of Washington have access to same-day crisis counseling through the [Husky Helpline](https://wellbeing.uw.edu/huskyhelpline/). More structured support can be accessed through the [UW Mental health counseling center](https://wellbeing.uw.edu/unit/counseling-center/), [peer wellness coaching group](https://livewell.uw.edu/pwc/), and [group therapy programs](https://www.polisci.washington.edu/news/2023/01/19/advertised-groups-winter-2023). The Mental Health Counselling Center services are covered by UW student insurance (ISHIP or GAIP). We encourage participants to learn more about these resources [here](https://wellbeing.uw.edu/mental-health/mental-health-resources/). * Faculty/Staff/Postdocs: Faculty and staff can avail short-term, focused therapy sessions through the Washington State Employee Assistance Program ([WA EAP](https://hr.uw.edu/worklife/employee-assistance-program/)). Everyone enrolled with [PEBB](https://www.hca.wa.gov/pebb-benefits-admins/pebb-benefits#:~:text=The%20Public%20Employees%20Benefits%20Board,Care%20Assistance%20Program%20(DCAP).) is eligible. * Resources for workplace-related mental health issues relevant to geoscientists: * [Climate Anxiety & Eco-Grief](https://www.drjenniferatkinson.com/) * [climate psychiatry alliance](https://www.climatepsychiatry.org/) * [Workplace mental health and well-being](https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/workplace-well-being/index.html) * [Work That Reconnects Network](https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/workplace-well-being/index.html) * Participating in supportive communities: Many of us struggle alone and have inhibitions when discussing our feelings because we might fail to identify in the same way as our everyday workplace colleagues. This is particularly relevant if we identify ourselves as marginalized in some form or the other. In these situations, engaging with communities and groups of scientists we can identify with personally might be helpful in seeking mentorship, and rediscovering purpose. Along these lines, we provide an initial list of organizations that have a core focus on inclusivity and mentorship: * [Association for Women Geoscientists](https://www.awg.org/) * [Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Geosciences](https://aapigeosci.org/) * [GeoLatinas](https://geolatinas.org/) * [Polar Impact](https://www.polarimpactnetwork.org/) * [CryoCommunity](https://cryocommunity.org/) ### Technical Needs (GPUs? Large file storage? Unique libraries?) * Stationery (papers, pencils/pens) * Whiteboards * Round table format furniture setup

[ShashankBice]

Here is the slightly modified guideline manual for the session:

This manual is an adaptation of the manual used by Gitika Talwar, PhD and Dvon Maurer, MA, for the Winter 2023 edition of the UW Doctoral Student Support Group and from the guidelines suggested by East Bay Meditation Center for Multicultural Interactions

• I will practice deep listening, which means listening to myself and others in the present moment without being distracted by devices or other technology.
• We value the unexpected and the opportunity to learn. Therefore, we will not pre-plan our responses when listening to others, but instead be open to being surprised and learning something new.
• I will say things to other members in a constructive and nonjudgmental way. I will refrain from offering unsolicited advice, and if I have advice to offer, I will accept it as advice to myself. We will refrain from blaming or shaming ourselves and others.
• We are committed to fostering a safe and respectful environment. Therefore, we will treat everything we hear with the utmost confidentiality and respect.
• We will strive to recognize and respect our diverse intersecting identities and lived experiences, acknowledging and addressing the systemic oppression and marginalization of people based on race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, size, weight, age, disability, immigration status, or any other dehumanized identity.
• Impact matters; intent is not equal to impact. I trust that we don’t aim to hurt each other, and I recognize that it may happen. We will practice ownership of our experience when speaking by using “I” statements.
• We can say “I pass” if we don’t wish to speak on any prompt.
• I am the expert of my experience & others are the expert of theirs. I will offer my experience to help group members feel less alone & for us to collectively generate wisdom that can guide us.