Maintaining the psycho-emotional health of addiction professionals

 

In the context of COVID-19, Dianova Chile developed a novel self-care programme for addiction professionals, a best practice recognized by the Pompidou Group.

 

In the wake of COVID-19 a sudden surge of teleworking practices appeared among addiction professionals. This has posed obvious challenges. Addiction professionals work with people whose profile is complex. And in many cases they may also find themselves in risky social situations. Nevertheless, they must endeavour to establish supportive bonds with people in treatment. Which implies an intensive commitment.

 

Adequately helping people in addiction treatment can result in bio-psycho-emotional burnout. Creating these bonds requires addiction professionals:

> on one hand, to have specific dispositions,

> a capacity for self-care that enable them to empathize with the residents,

> and also provide them with adequate follow-up.

All these skills are essential to the provision of quality services.

 

Novel addiction professionals team care programme

 

Implementing self-care strategies to maintain the psycho-emotional health of professionals working in Dianova Chile’s support services is key. 

 

Dianova Chile has decided to implement this “Team Self-Care” programme for the 25 addiction professionals working in two of its facilities. Namely, the centres of  Curicó and Romeral.

 

Also participating are 1 engineer and 8 psychologists of which 6 form the volunteer team. The programme provides individual sessions to the professionals most affected by the situation.

 

Implementation of the Self-care programme

 

Two lines of action have been identified. The first one is individual and aims to work on concepts related to self-knowledge, while focusing on stress and anxiety management. The format is of five 1-hour, weekly individual sessions.

 

The second line is related to group work and involves working in the current pandemic context. Particularly, sharing the addiction professional’s understanding and perception of the current situation and its related risks. And in addition to ensuring the continuity of the work carried out by the team.

 

A methodology has been designed based on a total of 10 online sessions through the Zoom platform, with five sessions for each team. After this period, and depending on sanitary conditions, three face-to-face sessions will be held, in the presence of both groups. In total, thirteen sessions at the end of the programme.

 

The project should be carried out until November 2020, at which time a formal assessment of its outcomes will be made. Until that date, the initiative will be coordinated, monitored and evaluated on an ongoing basis in close cooperation with the Human Resources and Quality of Services departments.

 

Good practice recognized by the Council of Europe’s Pompidou Group

 

This good practice has been the subject of a publication on the Pompidou Group’s “Save lives, protect people” portal. The Pompidou Group is the Council of Europe’s drug policy cooperation platform. The Council of Europe is the continent’s leading human rights organisation. It includes 47 member states, 27 of which are members of the European Union. The Pompidou Group provides a forum for open debate, exchange of good practices, training. As well as the promotion of innovative, evidence-based practices.

 

In the context of the pandemic, the Pompidou Group has created the “Save lives, protect people” platform. It aims specifically to prevent harm to people who use drugs and those around them. The portal helps to exchange good practices in the field of addiction treatment and prevention. Specifically, in the context of COVID to ensure people’s rights and quality of services. It includes good practices published in English, Spanish, Italian, French, Russian and German.

 

Addiction services are essential services and it is crucial to give addiction professionals the needed support

 

On behalf of Dianova International, we would like to congratulate Dianova Chile for their innovative programme. We encourage all the organizations working in this field to face the challenges posed by the pandemic and take steps to adapt to these changes. While, at the same time, ensuring the health and quality of life of their addiction professionals, staff and residents.

 

“When everything is on pause, some of us must carry on”: addiction services are essential – Dianova’s campaign.

 

Addictive disorders are a public health problem. It is thus critical to take great care of the psycho-emotional health of addiction professionals so that they can continue to provide quality services even in these turbulent times.

 

In conclusion, we hope that through initiatives such as Dianova Chile’s, addiction professionals will be better supported so that they can continue to provide their valuable services.

 

Courtesy of Dianova International