Activist mental health and managing burnout: Difference between revisions
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= Mental Health = | = Mental Health = | ||
== In capitalist society == | == In capitalist society == | ||
In our capitalist society, mental health is presented as an individual matter and for us to work on or it is treated as a matter to be medicated. <span style="">We live in interdependence with the people and situations around us. </span><span style="">Individual mental health and the [https://www.attachment-and-trauma-treatment-centre-for-healing.com/blogs/understanding-and-working-with-the-window-of-tolerance window of tolerance] one has to manage stress is affected by, for example: </span> | In our capitalist society, mental health is presented as an individual matter and for us to work on or it is treated as a matter to be medicated. That is, responsibility is on individuals and/or their brain chemistry, rather than how systems of oppression are causing harm. | ||
Some of the messages capitalism sells us about mental health include: | |||
*Everything has a ‘purpose’ or goal, including rest (we rest so we can increase productivity)<br> | |||
*Buy this and you’ll feel better! | |||
*If you can’t take care of yourself you’re flawed, or even disposable | |||
== In colonial society == | |||
<p>[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iVh0axJCxpI94q0K7golYL_LT3qRwSDQ/view Larissa Crawford] at Future Ancestors explains:</p> | |||
*When British colonies landed on Turtle Island, they viewed Indigenous societies as being ʻtime-lessʼ, or culturally lacking regularity, order and uniformity). This deemed them ‘inferior.’ | |||
*Indigenous Peoples were in relationship to the land, rather than using it as ‘productively’ as British Colonies thought they should. Productivity was defined by the amount that could be extracted to create more material wealth, rather than the value and wealth of health and relationships. | |||
*Today, the legacy colonialism left remains. Time for rest, being on the land, and health-related activities are not prioritized as valuable or productive. | |||
<p>Some questions to reflect on:</p> | |||
*"How does a lack of access to nature impact our mental and physical health? What about when we do have access to nature?" -[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iVh0axJCxpI94q0K7golYL_LT3qRwSDQ/view Larissa Crawford] | |||
*Explore what a seasonal work-cycle would look like, by beginning with asking your teams "how does our demand, health, and energy change with the seasons?" -[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iVh0axJCxpI94q0K7golYL_LT3qRwSDQ/view Larissa Crawford] | |||
*It could also be beneficial to include connecting with the land as part of our work as activists. "Can we connect with the land and ask ourselves what lessons it holds, and how it can be applied to our work? Can we use this reconnection to strengthen our relationship to the earth, which we are advocating for in our work? Can we use reconnection to strengthen our individual wellbeing and thus sustain ourselves long term?" -[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iVh0axJCxpI94q0K7golYL_LT3qRwSDQ/view Larissa Crawford] | |||
==Mental health is collective== | |||
<span style="">We live in interdependence with the people and situations around us. </span><span style="">Individual mental health and the [https://www.attachment-and-trauma-treatment-centre-for-healing.com/blogs/understanding-and-working-with-the-window-of-tolerance window of tolerance] one has to manage stress is affected by, for example: </span> | |||
*<span style="">the [[oppression]] the individual experiences; includes things like environmental factors in our upbringing or present (e.g. living conditions, access to opportunities, microaggressions etc).</span> | *<span style="">the [[oppression]] the individual experiences; includes things like environmental factors in our upbringing or present (e.g. living conditions, access to opportunities, microaggressions etc).</span> | ||
*<span style="">the difficulties faced by people around them</span> | *<span style="">the difficulties faced by people around them</span> | ||
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== Facing the climate crisis == | == Facing the climate crisis == | ||
<p>''<span style="">Why seek psychological services if the person I see does not understand what I am going through and is not also trying to dismantle the system in place?</span><span style=""></span>''</p> | <p>''<span style="">Why seek psychological services if the person I see does not understand what I am going through and is not also trying to dismantle the system in place?</span><span style=""></span>''</p> | ||
<p>''<span style="">Will going to see a therapist will just make me even more angry? I don't want to educate him on the systems of oppression and the seriousness of the crisis... | <p>''<span style="">Will going to see a therapist will just make me even more angry? I don't want to educate him on the systems of oppression and the seriousness of the crisis...</span>''</p> | ||
<p><br><span style="">The multiple crises that surround us, exacerbated by the climate crisis, awaken emotions that are also influenced by:</span></p> | <p><br><span style="">The multiple crises that surround us, exacerbated by the climate crisis, awaken emotions that are also influenced by:</span></p> | ||
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 14.4px; height: 260px;" | {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 14.4px; height: 260px;" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| style="width: 168px | | style="width: 168px;" | '''Dominant discourses on the climate crisis''' | ||
| style="width: 1483px | | style="width: 1483px;" | <li>Greenwashing. Green technologies. Green growth. A focus on fear. Carbon footprint and individual actions.<br></li> | ||
|- | <br>'''On the discourse of individual gestures - '''The discourse saying that we must reduce our ecological impact, or our "carbon footprint" associates individual behavior with the climate crisis. It says a person who consumes is an enemy of nature. Individuals feel guilty and helpless. It also says all of humanity is something that harms nature. In truth, it is the capitalist economic model and it's exploitative mentality that destroy nature; not individuals who are born and socialized into this system. While we are talking about individual gestures, business leaders continue to make profits by selling “reduced impact” items and exploiting people and the planet. | ||
| style="width: 168px | |- | ||
| style="width: 1483px | | style="width: 168px;" | '''Dominant discourses on eco-anxiety''' | ||
| style="width: 1483px;" | | |||
*Be careful not to describe young people or marginalized groups as “victims” that need to be helped. It creates a saviour narrative. | |||
<p>Saviourism draws autonomy away from these groups, and describes them as powerless.</p> | <p>Saviourism draws autonomy away from these groups, and describes them as powerless.</p> | ||
<p>Focus on the people, groups and systems who are perpetrating the climate crisis and that need to be held accountable. </p> | <p>Focus on the people, groups and systems who are perpetrating the climate crisis and that need to be held accountable. </p> | ||
|- style="height: 51px;" | |- style="height: 51px;" | ||
| style="width: 168px; height: 51px;" | '''Individual responsibility for care'''<br> | | style="width: 168px; height: 51px;" | '''Individual responsibility for care'''<br> | ||
| style="width: 1483px; height: 51px;" | “''People talk a lot about taking care of yourself, but that means doing what you individually can outside of your job while the big structures that reproduce inequality remain firmly in place."''- Janey Starling & Seyi Falodun-Liburd <ref>https://www. | | style="width: 1483px; height: 51px;" | “''People talk a lot about taking care of yourself, but that means doing what you individually can outside of your job while the big structures that reproduce inequality remain firmly in place."''- Janey Starling & Seyi Falodun-Liburd <ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj-alDQD2fg</ref> <sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"></sup> | ||
|} | |} | ||
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= Collective support = | = Collective support = | ||
<p><span style="">Systems of oppression create great hardships for each person to go through. | <p><span style="">Systems of oppression create great hardships for each person to go through. </span><span style="">If we collectivize care, we include the most precarious people and we learn to use our greatest tool in building a world without violence. <ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj-alDQD2fg</ref> </span><sup class="reference"></sup></p> | ||
<p><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"></sup><span style="">"</span>''<span style="">Prioritising care is a refusal to abandon oneself and the others around us." <ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj-alDQD2fg</ref> </span>''<sup class="reference"></sup></p> | |||
<p><sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"></sup><span style="">In the face of the climate crisis and the many social crises we face, we can support each other collectively through community care and a regenerative culture.</span><br></p> | |||
<p><br></p> | |||
== Community care == | == Community care == | ||
<p>'''<span style="">Community care</span>'''<span style=""> | <p>'''<span style="">Community care </span>'''<span style="">is the </span><span style="">shared responsibility to offer and receive the emotional, physical and structural support we need in order to live more lovingly and liberatedly. </span><span style="">It's also the way we improve our groups to meet our aspirations.</span><br></p> | ||
<p><br><span style="">Communal care within a group includes...</span></p> | |||
<span style=""></span> | <span style=""></span> | ||
*<span style="">Space to arrive as a human person with personal challenges.</span> | *<span style="">Space to arrive as a human person with personal challenges.</span> | ||
*<span style=""> | *<span style="">Building a culture in our spaces and relationships rooted in trust and mutual compassion</span> | ||
<p><br><span | <p><br>'''<span>Community care is not o</span><span style="">pposed to discipline or rigor. </span>'''<span>Instead,</span>'''<span style=""> </span>'''<span style="">we use our energy more strategically because </span><span style="">“o</span>''<span style="">ur battles are too important for any one of us to burn out." <ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj-alDQD2fg</ref> </span>'' | ||
<sup class="reference"></sup><sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"></sup><span style="">Thus, community care is integral to team functioning so we can carry out our fights with more ease. </span></p> | |||
<span style=""></span> | |||
<span style="">Patriarcheal systems today suggest</span><span style=""> care is largely assumed by women in our societies. If we wish to develop community care in our spaces, this work must be done and organized in an explicit way so that the mental load is not assumed by women and femmes, or by those experiencign other forms of oppression (ableism, racism etc). </span><br> | |||
<span style=""></span> | |||
=== Putting community care into action === | === Putting community care into action === | ||
==== Bringing the ingredients of a culture of care to life ==== | ==== Bringing the ingredients of a culture of care to life ==== | ||
<p><span style="">These ingredients are taken from the article | <p><span style="">These ingredients are taken from the article [https://wagingnonviolence.org/2023/03/we-need-a-movement-that-addresses-the-trauma-of-fighting-for-a-burning-planet/ We need a climate movement that addresses the trauma of fighting for a burning planet] by [https://wagingnonviolence.org/ Waging Nonviolence].</span></p> | ||
{| class="wikitable" | <p><span style="">Note that the actions for the different ingredients described may be different from one group to another.</span></p> | ||
|- | |||
| '''<span style="">Ingredient</span><br>''' | {| class="wikitable" style="height: 1016px;" | ||
| <p>''<span style="">Examples</span>''<br></p> | |- style="height: 28px;" | ||
|- | | style="height: 28px; width: 175.25px;" | '''<span style="">Ingredient</span><br>''' | ||
| '''<span style="">Ease</span>'''<span style=""> | | style="height: 28px; width: 1476.75px;" | <p>''<span style="">Examples</span>''<br></p> | ||
| | |- style="height: 158px;" | ||
*<span style=""> | | style="height: 158px; width: 175.25px;" | '''<span style="">Ease </span>'''<span style="">*ingredient added by the HUB</span><br>'''<br>''' | ||
*<span style=""> | | style="height: 158px; width: 1476.75px;" | <p><span style="">This ingredient allows people to take action accessibly; it's less complicated, less energy-consuming, and less reserved for people who know how things work. </span><span style="">In a context where many activists tell us that their mental health improves in action, facilitating it has its place as an ingredient of community care in the context of activism.</span></p> | ||
*<span style=""> | <p>You can contribute this ingredient to your grop by:</p> | ||
|- | *<span style="">Creating documentation answering potential questions for new joiners.</span> | ||
| '''<span style="">Space</span>'''<br> | *<span style="">Creating a meeting calendar to remove the collective burden of planning a new meeting date after each meeting</span> | ||
| <p><span style="">To rest, reflect, recover and heal.</span><br></p><p> | *<span style="">Adding opportunities that makes it easier to get involved (i.e. makes </span><span style="">certain tasks, project management, meeting organization, etc. less energy-intensive).</span> | ||
*<span style=""> | |- style="height: 135px;" | ||
*<span style=""> | | style="height: 135px; width: 175.25px;" | '''<span style="">Space</span>'''<br> | ||
*<span style=""> | | style="height: 135px; width: 1476.75px;" | <p><span style="">To rest, reflect, recover and heal.</span><br></p> | ||
|- | <p>Contribute to this by:</p> | ||
| '''<span style="">Love</span>''' | *<span style="">Planning campaigns with low points (that is, easier lift actions or time off)</span> | ||
| | *<span style="">Holding sharing and learning circles.</span> | ||
*<span style="">Regular compliments, positive feedback, and celebration of people and their work (“I separate people from their work, because we need to better celebrate the inherent value of people, regardless of their work”). | *<span style="">Planning rest times.</span> | ||
|- style="height: 196px;" | |||
| style="height: 196px; width: 175.25px;" | '''<span style="">Love</span>''' | |||
| style="height: 196px; width: 1476.75px;" | | |||
<span style="">This might include:</span> | |||
*<span style="">Regular compliments, positive feedback, and celebration of people and their work (“I separate people from their work, because we need to better celebrate the inherent value of people, regardless of their work”). <ref>https://wagingnonviolence.org/2023/03/we-need-a-movement-that-addresses-the-trauma-of-fighting-for-a-burning-planet/</ref> </span><br> | |||
*<span style="">Put time into the personal growth of members.</span> | *<span style="">Put time into the personal growth of members.</span> | ||
*<span style="">Regularly check in on people's well-being.</span> | *<span style="">Regularly check in on people's well-being.</span> | ||
*<span style="">Create communities of support for people going through difficult times.</span> | *<span style="">Create communities of support for people going through difficult times.</span> | ||
*<span style="">Mentoring and pairing.</span> | *<span style="">Mentoring and pairing.</span> | ||
|- | *<span style=""><span style="">Advocating for and meeting our needs!</span></span> | ||
| '''<span style="">Diversity</span>''' | <span style=""><span style="">Self-reflective questions to raise to help group members advocate their needs might include: What is my body telling me right now, or what has it been telling me lately? What words describe my needs right now? (They can be right now, from today, this week etc).</span></span><span style=""><span style=""><br></span></span> | ||
| | |- style="height: 28px;" | ||
| style="height: 28px; width: 175.25px;" | '''<span style="">Diversity</span>''' | |||
|- | | style="height: 28px; width: 1476.75px;" | | ||
| '''<span style="">Limit</span>''' | <span style="">Encourage diversity of perspectives and respectful feedback.</span> | ||
| | |- style="height: 106px;" | ||
*<span style=""> | | style="height: 106px; width: 175.25px;" | '''<span style="">Limit</span>''' | ||
*<span style=""> | | style="height: 106px; width: 1476.75px;" | | ||
*<span style=""> | <span style="">Try:</span> | ||
|- | *<span style="">Asking rather than assume that some people are able to take on more work.</span><br> | ||
| '''<span style="">Awareness</span>''' | *<span style="">To have clear objectives to avoid feeling like you have to do everything.</span> | ||
| | *<span style="">Encouraging people to set their own boundaries and communicate them.</span> | ||
|- style="height: 28px;" | |||
|- | | style="height: 28px; width: 175.25px;" | '''<span style="">Awareness</span>''' | ||
| '''<span style="">Compassion</span><br>''' | | style="height: 28px; width: 1476.75px;" | | ||
| | <span style="">Create spaces to address different issues (unconscious bias, trauma, feedback and reflection, etc.).</span><br> | ||
*<span style=""> | |- style="height: 77px;" | ||
| style="height: 77px; width: 175.25px;" | '''<span style="">Compassion</span><br>''' | |||
| style="height: 77px; width: 1476.75px;" | | |||
<span style="">Encourage:</span> | |||
*<span style="">Seeing mistakes as part of learning.</span><br> | |||
*<span style="">Knowing the needs of the people around us.</span> | *<span style="">Knowing the needs of the people around us.</span> | ||
*<span style=""> | *<span style="">Avoiding judgment.</span> | ||
|- | |- style="height: 77px;" | ||
| '''<span style="">Vulnerability</span><br>''' | | style="height: 77px; width: 175.25px;" | '''<span style="">Vulnerability</span><br>''' | ||
| | | style="height: 77px; width: 1476.75px;" | | ||
*<span style=""> | <span style="">Suggest:</span> | ||
*<span style=""> | *<span style="">Honesty when you make mistakes.</span><br> | ||
*<span style=""> | *<span style="">Taking time to welcome people with their strengths, fears and needs.</span> | ||
|- | *<span style="">"Demanding and striving for what is needed, not just what [one thinks] can be achieved, despite fear or outside attacks." <ref>https://wagingnonviolence.org/2023/03/we-need-a-movement-that-addresses-the-trauma-of-fighting-for-a-burning-planet/</ref> </span> | ||
| '''<span style="">Joy</span>''' | |- style="height: 77px;" | ||
| | | style="height: 77px; width: 175.25px;" | '''<span style="">Joy</span>''' | ||
*<span style=""> | | style="height: 77px; width: 1476.75px;" | | ||
<span style="">This includes:</span> | |||
*<span style="">Taking time to play, “time without a goal”.</span><br> | |||
*<span style="">Recurring social time and moments of celebration.</span> | *<span style="">Recurring social time and moments of celebration.</span> | ||
*<span style=""> | *<span style="">Identifying the types of work that are associated with joy and find ways to incorporate them.</span> | ||
|- | |- style="height: 53px;" | ||
| '''<span style="">Fluidity</span><br>''' | | style="height: 53px; width: 175.25px;" | '''<span style="">Fluidity</span><br>''' | ||
| | | style="height: 53px; width: 1476.75px;" | | ||
*<span style=""> | <span style="">Encourage this by:</span> | ||
*<span style=""> | *<span style="">Having an openness to change according to what surrounds us.</span><br> | ||
|- | *<span style="">Sharing and learning from others in order to “contaminate” ourselves with our knowledge.</span> | ||
| '''<span style="">Imagination</span><br>''' | |- style="height: 53px;" | ||
| | | style="height: 53px; width: 175.25px;" | '''<span style="">Imagination</span><br>''' | ||
| style="height: 53px; width: 1476.75px;" | | |||
<span style="">Try:</span> | |||
*<span style="">Welcoming more art and artists to our spaces.</span><br> | *<span style="">Welcoming more art and artists to our spaces.</span><br> | ||
*<span style=""> | *<span style="">Learning from people outside our circles.</span> | ||
|} | |} | ||
{| class="wikitable" | ==== Establish a feedback mechanism <ref>https://transitionnetwork.org/news/editorial-sophy-banks-on-balance-or-burnout/</ref> <sup class="reference"></sup> ==== | ||
|- | <p><sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"></sup><br><span style="">A work team can be mandated to conduct this process on an ongoing basis. </span><span style="">Roles related to supporting the process should be clear and ideally, rotating to sharing the emotional load.</span></p> | ||
| '''<span style="">1. Space for receiving feedback and needs</span>'''<br> | |||
| <p><span style="">Have spaces to take and receive | *Carve out time at the beginning of your meetings, and before actions and events to pause and reflect on whether there are needs that have been left unmet and to check in on one another. <br> | ||
|- | |||
| '''<span style="">2. Evaluation of feedback received</span>'''<br> | {| class="wikitable" style="height: 276px;" | ||
| | |- style="height: 57px;" | ||
|- | | style="height: 57px; width: 174.344px;" | '''<span style="">1. Space for receiving feedback and needs</span>'''<br> | ||
| '''<span style="">3. Taking action</span>'''<br> | | style="height: 57px; width: 1477.66px;" | <p><span style="">Have spaces to take and receive </span>''<span style="">feedback </span>''<span style="">from members on group activities and on people's needs related to group activities.</span></p> | ||
| <p><span style="">Create an appropriate response | |||
|- | *Check ins or space might look like one on ones, or surveys sent out beforehand. For example, check out this [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCuCmVlNC1h39GKtuaBIt1NHFtY30UAge4gyAOwTnvSGfgHA/viewform?usp=sf_link access and safety survey]. | ||
| '''<span style="">4. Counter resistance</span><br>''' | |- style="height: 51px;" | ||
| | | style="height: 51px; width: 174.344px;" | '''<span style="">2. Evaluation of feedback received</span>'''<br> | ||
| | | style="height: 51px; width: 1477.66px;" | <p><span style="">Discuss what the feedback means for the group.</span><br></p> | ||
| '''<span style="">5. Assess</span><br>''' | |- style="height: 57px;" | ||
| <span style="">Ask | | style="height: 57px; width: 174.344px;" | '''<span style="">3. Taking action</span>'''<br> | ||
| style="height: 57px; width: 1477.66px;" | <p><span style="">Create an appropriate care response for people in the group or community.</span></p> | |||
<p><span style="">Examples: meeting every two weeks rather than every week, creating moments for congratulations, hosting activities, organizing recurring social activities, creating a support and sharing group etc.</span></p> | |||
|- style="height: 83px;" | |||
| style="height: 83px; width: 174.344px;" | '''<span style="">4. Counter resistance</span><br>''' | |||
| style="height: 83px; width: 1477.66px;" | <span style="">At this stage, we try to go beyond the old comfort zone of the group to create a new one. </span><span style="">Collective effort must be made to support the actions needed to respond to the feedback of the group. </span> | |||
|- style="height: 28px;" | |||
| style="height: 28px; width: 174.344px;" | '''<span style="">5. Assess</span><br>''' | |||
| style="height: 28px; width: 1477.66px;" | <span style="">Ask whether the action(s) were able to respond to the feedback or the needs expressed.</span><br> | |||
|} | |} | ||
== What sustains activists around the world == | == What sustains activists around the world == | ||
<p><span | {| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 440px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" | ||
|- style="height: 28px;" | |||
| style="width: 19.7572%; background-color: rgb(153, 225, 217); height: 28px;" | '''Australia''' | |||
| style="width: 80.2428%; height: 28px;" | | |||
<p><span>An [https://commonslibrary.org/sustaining-ourselves-as-activists/ article by Helen Cox] </span><span>summarizes what activists said they do to '''support their activism individually''' (</span><span>alongside creating community care mechanisms).</span></p> | |||
<p><br><span>Their answers could guide reflections related to...</span></p> | |||
*<span>commitment capacity</span> | |||
*<span>exercise</span> | |||
*<span>sleep</span> | |||
*<span>food</span> | |||
*<span>nature</span> | |||
*<span>time management and breaks</span> | |||
*<span>group dynamics</span> | |||
*<span>meditation practices</span> | |||
*<span>non-activism relations</span> | |||
*<span>mentoring</span> | |||
*<span>social networks</span> | |||
*<span>long-term vision and thinking</span> | |||
*<span>creativity</span> | |||
*<span>spirituality</span> | |||
|- style="height: 67px;" | |||
| style="width: 19.7572%; background-color: rgb(153, 225, 217); height: 67px;" | '''Columbia''' | |||
| style="width: 80.2428%; height: 67px;" | | |||
<span></span> | |||
<br> | |||
<span>A [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FUYKpnDvJnmjYyr-5BuA78n3ubrC5CFc/view report following focus groups with trans and non-binary activists] in Columbia describes some of their care practices. Participants were part of a community network that mobilized during the pandemic to support trans sex worker communities. Some takeaways for '''community care practices''' were:</span> | |||
<span>'''Care is a practice'''</span> | |||
*<span>It is constructed in practice through relationships or one-to-one agency. </span>Care is "Research and active listening (...) so we know how to take care of others or take care of ourselves (...) it is also listening to ourselves, listening to our body, because our body is one of the first ones that starts to show signs when something is wrong when we self-medicate or our mental process declines” (Focus group member). | |||
<span> <ref>https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FUYKpnDvJnmjYyr-5BuA78n3ubrC5CFc/view</ref> </span> | |||
<span>'''Offer support groups or sessions'''</span> | |||
*<span>A peer support group was created by the network to use their own ways of addressing emotional distress from the daily violence they experience.</span> | |||
*<span>Hold space for grief, for raising difficult feelings. </span> | |||
<span style="font-size: 14.4px;">We build relationships, connection and trust in these vulnerable moments. Relationships and holding each other through violence sustain us.</span> | |||
|- style="height: 74px;" | |||
| style="width: 19.7572%; background-color: rgb(153, 225, 217); height: 74px;" | | |||
'''Spain''' | |||
| style="width: 80.2428%; height: 74px;" | | |||
<span>[https://ulexproject.org/ Ulex Project] in Spain has [https://ulexproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/sustainable-activism-ulex-signature-trainings.pdf several collective and personal tool suggestions] for preventing and managing burnout, much of which relate to other aspects of group dynamics such as:</span> | |||
< | |||
*< | |||
*<span style=""> | '''Using the''' <strong style="font-size: 14.4px;">action learning cycle for reflection</strong> | ||
*The Action Learning methodology enables us to take the time for deeper reflection as a basis for enriched analysis and future planning. <em style="font-size: 14.4px;">Act, reflect, analyze and learn, plan and act.</em> | |||
*<span | |||
*< | '''Encouraging the practice of mindful awareness''' | ||
*"Mindfulness can be brought to our experience of the body, the senses, our emotional experience, behavioural tendencies, and to enable us to become more conscious of our thoughts and how they frame our experience. In addition to awareness of our own body, mind and heart, mindfulness is also a key factor in increasing awareness and understanding of others and our interactions with the world." | |||
*"''Body and breath based practices''''' '''can support this kind of mental training." -[https://ulexproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/sustainable-activism-ulex-signature-trainings.pdf Ulex Project]<span style="font-size: 14.4px;">. </span>Body and breath-based practices that could be included in teams include holding brief meditations together (there's many free apps or youtube for this), or something as simple as 'shaking it out'. | |||
*<span | <span></span> | ||
*<span style=""> | |||
*<span style=""> | '''Holding space for open dialogue''' | ||
*It can help to hold space for the emotional experiences people are having.<br> | |||
'''Raising power dynamics''' | |||
*Name them in your group. | |||
*<span | <span></span> | ||
'''Consider decision making processes''' | |||
*It is "common enough to find that attempts to replace traditional hierarchies with horizontal flat structures which fetishize consensus processes can also lead to deep frustration, stagnation or dissipation. Developing greater agility in adopting <em style="font-size: 14.4px;">differentiated and distributed forms of decision making </em><span style="font-size: 14.4px;">can often help us to better express our values and free up energy and initiative." -[https://ulexproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/sustainable-activism-ulex-signature-trainings.pdf Ulex Project]</span> | |||
<span></span> | |||
'''Facing conflict and understanding it as necessary for growth''' | |||
*This also includes building a culture of feedback | |||
<span></span> | |||
'''Considering your group's capacity when planning''' '''actions''' | |||
*Reflect each time you act on whether you were stretched thin, and how to improve this the next time. | |||
*Recognize you will need to apply some time and energy to strategic objectives that increase our internal capacity, secure further resources, and gain us time and potency. | |||
<span></span> | |||
<strong style="font-size: 14.4px;">Balacing the type of work you do</strong> | |||
*<span style="font-size: 14.4px;">Balancing "productivity with uselessness, action with reflection, output with nourishment and work with sheer enjoyment! These are all crucial aspects of long term and effective engagement." </span><span style="font-size: 14.4px;">-[https://ulexproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/sustainable-activism-ulex-signature-trainings.pdf Ulex Project]</span><br> | |||
|- style="height: 271px;" | |||
| style="width: 19.7572%; background-color: rgb(153, 225, 217); height: 271px;" | '''The Netherlands''' | |||
| style="width: 80.2428%; height: 271px;" | <span>The [https://supportrecoveryteam.wordpress.com/ Support and Recovey team] in Amsterdam offers [https://supportrecoveryteam.wordpress.com/tips-for-recovery/ post-action care suggestions] (many of which are also important pre-actions!)</span> | |||
<span></span><p>'''Ground yourself in the restorative power of nature'''</p> | |||
*As a group, or encourage this individually, go for a walk, do some gardening, bring your pets to the park etc. | |||
<span>'''Check in on each other'''</span> | |||
*Use the buddy system or affinity groups to better encourage regularly check in with each other | |||
<p>'''Be creative when processing experiences'''</p> | |||
*As a team or individually, have group members write down what they’ve experienced and how theyre doing, or try drawing, painting, writing poetry, dancing etc. | |||
'''Incorporate joy in your actions and meetings!''' | |||
|} | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|- | |||
|} | |||
== What sustains activists in the HUB community == | == What sustains activists in the HUB community == | ||
<p>''<span style="">Here are some responses from activists in the HUB community to the question "What makes you feel good about activism?" </span>''</p><p><br></p> | <p>''<span style="">Here are some responses from activists in the HUB community to the question "What makes you feel good about activism?" </span>''</p> | ||
<p><br></p> | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| <span style="">" | | style="width: 463px;" | <span style="">"Community "</span> | ||
| <span style="">" | | style="width: 361px;" | <span style="">"The interconnection"</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| <span style=""> | | style="width: 463px;" | <span style="">“Feeling the influence we can have”</span> | ||
| <span style=""> | | style="width: 361px;" | <span style="">“More people are starting to get involved in activism”</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| <span style=""> | | style="width: 463px;" | <span style="">It can allow you to "free yourself from certain frustrations or anxieties."</span><span style=""></span> | ||
| <p> | | style="width: 361px;" | <p>"Hearing from movement elders. It's a reminder these are intergenerational, long-term fights."</p> | ||
|} | |} | ||
<p><br></p><p>''<span style="">Would you like to submit your response? | |||
<p><br></p> | |||
<p>''<span style="">Would you like to submit your response? W</span><span style="">rite to kenzie@lehub.ca!</span>''</p> | |||
= Other resources and external support = | = Other resources and external support = | ||
[https://www.activist-trauma.net/assets/files/burnout_flyer_rightway.pdf Zine: Sustainable Activism & Avoiding Burnout]<p><br></p>[https://www.activist-trauma.net/fr/mental-health-matters.html Mental health of activists (PTSD, panic attacks, prevention, burnout, police violence, post-action, class struggle]<p><br></p>[https://wagingnonviolence.org/2023/03/we-need-a-movement-that-addresses-the-trauma-of-fighting-for-a-burning-planet/ Analysis: We need a climate movement that addresses the trauma of fighting for a burning planet]<p><br></p>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj-alDQD2fg How collective care can change society | Janey Starling & Seyi Falodun-Liburd | TEDxLondonWomen]<p><br></p>[https://commonslibrary.org/topic/wellbeing/ Section Well-being - Commons Change Library]<p><br></p>[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W2D6BcCvNHXNAoQkZ0pLvttoniy80_57OIFOzhdr2VU/edit Notes from the book A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety by Sarah Jaquette Ray]<p><br></p>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.disruptionlab.org%2F&source_ve_path=MTY0NTAz&feature=emb_share&v=iR6rjVynQsk State Violence & Mental Health - Disruption Network Lab]<p><br></p>[https://www.disruptionlab.org/madness Fighting for Justice in Mental Health - Disruption Network Lab]<p><br></p>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/collectifecomotion/ Eco-motion support community]<p><br></p>[https://www.jaremsawatsky.com/books/healing-justice/ Book: Healing Justice by Jarem Sawatsky]<p><br></p>[https://www.jaremsawatsky.com/books/healing-justice/ Book: Care work - Dreaming disability justice by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha]<p><br></p>[https://www.collectif-ecomotion.org/ressources Eco-motion resources (see bottom of page for free resources)]<p><br></p>[https://commonslibrary.org/sustaining-ourselves-as-activists/ Sustaining ourselves as Activists - Helen Cox (The Commons)]<p><br></p>[https://fireweedcollective.org/crisis-toolkit/ Crisis Toolkit - Fireweed Collective]<p><br></p>[https://www.letempsdemiliter.com/ Testimonials from young people about their feelings about the climate crisis (Le temps de militer)]<p><br></p>[https://commonslibrary.org/10-great-resources-on-activist-wellbeing/ “10 Great Resources on Activist Wellbeing - Commons Librarian”]<p><br>'''<span style="">Tiohtià:ke (colonially known as Montreal)</span>'''</p>[https://www.thelavendercollective.ca/recherche-de-services?lang=fr Mental health support for people from BIPOC communities - Génération Lavande]<p><br></p>[https://www.thelavendercollective.ca/recherche-de-services?lang=fr Emergency and relief resources for people in BIPOC communities - Génération Lavande] | [https://www.activist-trauma.net/assets/files/burnout_flyer_rightway.pdf Zine: Sustainable Activism & Avoiding Burnout]<p><br></p>[https://www.activist-trauma.net/fr/mental-health-matters.html Mental health of activists (PTSD, panic attacks, prevention, burnout, police violence, post-action, class struggle]<p><br></p>[https://wagingnonviolence.org/2023/03/we-need-a-movement-that-addresses-the-trauma-of-fighting-for-a-burning-planet/ Analysis: We need a climate movement that addresses the trauma of fighting for a burning planet]<p><br></p>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj-alDQD2fg How collective care can change society | Janey Starling & Seyi Falodun-Liburd | TEDxLondonWomen]<p><br></p>[https://commonslibrary.org/topic/wellbeing/ Section Well-being - Commons Change Library]<p><br></p>[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W2D6BcCvNHXNAoQkZ0pLvttoniy80_57OIFOzhdr2VU/edit Notes from the book A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety by Sarah Jaquette Ray]<p><br></p>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.disruptionlab.org%2F&source_ve_path=MTY0NTAz&feature=emb_share&v=iR6rjVynQsk State Violence & Mental Health - Disruption Network Lab]<p><br></p>[https://www.disruptionlab.org/madness Fighting for Justice in Mental Health - Disruption Network Lab]<p><br></p>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/collectifecomotion/ Eco-motion support community]<p><br></p>[https://www.jaremsawatsky.com/books/healing-justice/ Book: Healing Justice by Jarem Sawatsky]<p><br></p>[https://www.jaremsawatsky.com/books/healing-justice/ Book: Care work - Dreaming disability justice by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha]<p><br></p>[https://www.collectif-ecomotion.org/ressources Eco-motion resources (see bottom of page for free resources)]<p><br></p>[https://commonslibrary.org/sustaining-ourselves-as-activists/ Sustaining ourselves as Activists - Helen Cox (The Commons)]<p><br></p>[https://fireweedcollective.org/crisis-toolkit/ Crisis Toolkit - Fireweed Collective]<p><br></p>[https://www.letempsdemiliter.com/ Testimonials from young people about their feelings about the climate crisis (Le temps de militer)]<p><br></p>[https://commonslibrary.org/10-great-resources-on-activist-wellbeing/ “10 Great Resources on Activist Wellbeing - Commons Librarian”]<p><br>'''<span style="">Tiohtià:ke (colonially known as Montreal)</span>'''</p>[https://www.thelavendercollective.ca/recherche-de-services?lang=fr Mental health support for people from BIPOC communities - Génération Lavande]<p><br></p>[https://www.thelavendercollective.ca/recherche-de-services?lang=fr Emergency and relief resources for people in BIPOC communities - Génération Lavande] |
Latest revision as of 14:18, 3 October 2023
This page was created following a question received by a person from the HUB community: "How can we take care of ourselves as activists, when the resources and support available reinforce the systems we want to dismantle?" The following are covered: capitalist approaches to mental health, eco-anxiety, eco-whitewashing, individual empowerment, burnout, community care and individual practices within communities. This page will be continuously added to.
Mental Health
In capitalist society
In our capitalist society, mental health is presented as an individual matter and for us to work on or it is treated as a matter to be medicated. That is, responsibility is on individuals and/or their brain chemistry, rather than how systems of oppression are causing harm.
Some of the messages capitalism sells us about mental health include:
- Everything has a ‘purpose’ or goal, including rest (we rest so we can increase productivity)
- Buy this and you’ll feel better!
- If you can’t take care of yourself you’re flawed, or even disposable
In colonial society
Larissa Crawford at Future Ancestors explains:
- When British colonies landed on Turtle Island, they viewed Indigenous societies as being ʻtime-lessʼ, or culturally lacking regularity, order and uniformity). This deemed them ‘inferior.’
- Indigenous Peoples were in relationship to the land, rather than using it as ‘productively’ as British Colonies thought they should. Productivity was defined by the amount that could be extracted to create more material wealth, rather than the value and wealth of health and relationships.
- Today, the legacy colonialism left remains. Time for rest, being on the land, and health-related activities are not prioritized as valuable or productive.
Some questions to reflect on:
- "How does a lack of access to nature impact our mental and physical health? What about when we do have access to nature?" -Larissa Crawford
- Explore what a seasonal work-cycle would look like, by beginning with asking your teams "how does our demand, health, and energy change with the seasons?" -Larissa Crawford
- It could also be beneficial to include connecting with the land as part of our work as activists. "Can we connect with the land and ask ourselves what lessons it holds, and how it can be applied to our work? Can we use this reconnection to strengthen our relationship to the earth, which we are advocating for in our work? Can we use reconnection to strengthen our individual wellbeing and thus sustain ourselves long term?" -Larissa Crawford
Mental health is collective
We live in interdependence with the people and situations around us. Individual mental health and the window of tolerance one has to manage stress is affected by, for example:
- the oppression the individual experiences; includes things like environmental factors in our upbringing or present (e.g. living conditions, access to opportunities, microaggressions etc).
- the difficulties faced by people around them
- the variety of ways our brains function
- our parents upbringing and the influence this had on the parenting we received
Mental health is a collective issue.
Facing the climate crisis
Why seek psychological services if the person I see does not understand what I am going through and is not also trying to dismantle the system in place?
Will going to see a therapist will just make me even more angry? I don't want to educate him on the systems of oppression and the seriousness of the crisis...
The multiple crises that surround us, exacerbated by the climate crisis, awaken emotions that are also influenced by:
Dominant discourses on the climate crisis |
|
Dominant discourses on eco-anxiety |
Saviourism draws autonomy away from these groups, and describes them as powerless. Focus on the people, groups and systems who are perpetrating the climate crisis and that need to be held accountable. |
Individual responsibility for care |
“People talk a lot about taking care of yourself, but that means doing what you individually can outside of your job while the big structures that reproduce inequality remain firmly in place."- Janey Starling & Seyi Falodun-Liburd [1] |
Countering the dominant discourse
Faced with this reality and these discourses that feed distress, it is important to nurture a counter-discourse that centers the real causes of the climate crisis and the collective action necessary for climate justice. These counter-discourses speak of social movements, popular organization and collective power.
- To learn more about the different components of social movements, see movement ecology .
- To better understand how what you feel is related to the climate crisis, see @environmentalist.affirmations who popularized the content of the book, A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety by Sarah Jaquette Ray
- See also our page on eco-anxiety.
In activism
Burnout
Burnout is physical or emotional exhaustion caused by overwork or stress according to the Chambers Dictionary. This is a lived reality in almost all militant circles. It can be the result of an imbalance between aspects of our activism and our life.
Here are some causes of activist burnout mentioned by Sophy Banks of Transition Network
The stakes are high, urgent and very important |
“…in a society where a portion of the population is causing the problems, the people who feel responsible for solving them may be a small minority with few resources.." |
Doing is more good than feeling |
If we don't realize how we feel, it's possible that our feelings...
|
Giving more value to actions than to the state of people |
Only giving value to what is “productive”. This is a form of internalized ableism and it is damaging to our mental health. |
Act according to “heroism” |
Overdoing and not letting other people do important tasks, i.e. not sharing leadership |
Succumb to time pressure |
“What do we lose when we go too fast and do too much?"'
We lose:
|
Collective support
Systems of oppression create great hardships for each person to go through. If we collectivize care, we include the most precarious people and we learn to use our greatest tool in building a world without violence. [2]
"Prioritising care is a refusal to abandon oneself and the others around us." [3]
In the face of the climate crisis and the many social crises we face, we can support each other collectively through community care and a regenerative culture.
Community care
Community care is the shared responsibility to offer and receive the emotional, physical and structural support we need in order to live more lovingly and liberatedly. It's also the way we improve our groups to meet our aspirations.
Communal care within a group includes...
- Space to arrive as a human person with personal challenges.
- Building a culture in our spaces and relationships rooted in trust and mutual compassion
Community care is not opposed to discipline or rigor. Instead, we use our energy more strategically because “our battles are too important for any one of us to burn out." [4]
Thus, community care is integral to team functioning so we can carry out our fights with more ease.
Patriarcheal systems today suggest care is largely assumed by women in our societies. If we wish to develop community care in our spaces, this work must be done and organized in an explicit way so that the mental load is not assumed by women and femmes, or by those experiencign other forms of oppression (ableism, racism etc).
Putting community care into action
Bringing the ingredients of a culture of care to life
These ingredients are taken from the article We need a climate movement that addresses the trauma of fighting for a burning planet by Waging Nonviolence.
Note that the actions for the different ingredients described may be different from one group to another.
Ingredient |
Examples |
Ease *ingredient added by the HUB |
This ingredient allows people to take action accessibly; it's less complicated, less energy-consuming, and less reserved for people who know how things work. In a context where many activists tell us that their mental health improves in action, facilitating it has its place as an ingredient of community care in the context of activism. You can contribute this ingredient to your grop by:
|
Space |
To rest, reflect, recover and heal. Contribute to this by:
|
Love |
This might include:
Self-reflective questions to raise to help group members advocate their needs might include: What is my body telling me right now, or what has it been telling me lately? What words describe my needs right now? (They can be right now, from today, this week etc). |
Diversity |
Encourage diversity of perspectives and respectful feedback. |
Limit |
Try:
|
Awareness |
Create spaces to address different issues (unconscious bias, trauma, feedback and reflection, etc.). |
Compassion |
Encourage:
|
Vulnerability |
Suggest:
|
Joy |
This includes:
|
Fluidity |
Encourage this by:
|
Imagination |
Try:
|
Establish a feedback mechanism [7]
A work team can be mandated to conduct this process on an ongoing basis. Roles related to supporting the process should be clear and ideally, rotating to sharing the emotional load.
- Carve out time at the beginning of your meetings, and before actions and events to pause and reflect on whether there are needs that have been left unmet and to check in on one another.
1. Space for receiving feedback and needs |
Have spaces to take and receive feedback from members on group activities and on people's needs related to group activities.
|
2. Evaluation of feedback received |
Discuss what the feedback means for the group. |
3. Taking action |
Create an appropriate care response for people in the group or community. Examples: meeting every two weeks rather than every week, creating moments for congratulations, hosting activities, organizing recurring social activities, creating a support and sharing group etc. |
4. Counter resistance |
At this stage, we try to go beyond the old comfort zone of the group to create a new one. Collective effort must be made to support the actions needed to respond to the feedback of the group. |
5. Assess |
Ask whether the action(s) were able to respond to the feedback or the needs expressed. |
What sustains activists around the world
Australia |
An article by Helen Cox summarizes what activists said they do to support their activism individually (alongside creating community care mechanisms).
|
Columbia |
Care is a practice
[8] Offer support groups or sessions
We build relationships, connection and trust in these vulnerable moments. Relationships and holding each other through violence sustain us. |
Spain |
Ulex Project in Spain has several collective and personal tool suggestions for preventing and managing burnout, much of which relate to other aspects of group dynamics such as:
Using the action learning cycle for reflection
Encouraging the practice of mindful awareness
Holding space for open dialogue
Raising power dynamics
Consider decision making processes
Facing conflict and understanding it as necessary for growth
Considering your group's capacity when planning actions
Balacing the type of work you do
|
The Netherlands | The Support and Recovey team in Amsterdam offers post-action care suggestions (many of which are also important pre-actions!)
Ground yourself in the restorative power of nature
Check in on each other
Be creative when processing experiences
Incorporate joy in your actions and meetings! |
What sustains activists in the HUB community
Here are some responses from activists in the HUB community to the question "What makes you feel good about activism?"
"Community " | "The interconnection" |
“Feeling the influence we can have” | “More people are starting to get involved in activism” |
It can allow you to "free yourself from certain frustrations or anxieties." | "Hearing from movement elders. It's a reminder these are intergenerational, long-term fights." |
Would you like to submit your response? Write to kenzie@lehub.ca!
Other resources and external support
Zine: Sustainable Activism & Avoiding Burnout
Analysis: We need a climate movement that addresses the trauma of fighting for a burning planet
How collective care can change society | Janey Starling & Seyi Falodun-Liburd | TEDxLondonWomen
Section Well-being - Commons Change Library
Notes from the book A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety by Sarah Jaquette Ray
State Violence & Mental Health - Disruption Network Lab
Fighting for Justice in Mental Health - Disruption Network Lab
Book: Healing Justice by Jarem Sawatsky
Book: Care work - Dreaming disability justice by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
Eco-motion resources (see bottom of page for free resources)
Sustaining ourselves as Activists - Helen Cox (The Commons)
Crisis Toolkit - Fireweed Collective
Testimonials from young people about their feelings about the climate crisis (Le temps de militer)
“10 Great Resources on Activist Wellbeing - Commons Librarian”
Tiohtià:ke (colonially known as Montreal)
Mental health support for people from BIPOC communities - Génération Lavande
Emergency and relief resources for people in BIPOC communities - Génération Lavande
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj-alDQD2fg
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj-alDQD2fg
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj-alDQD2fg
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj-alDQD2fg
- ↑ https://wagingnonviolence.org/2023/03/we-need-a-movement-that-addresses-the-trauma-of-fighting-for-a-burning-planet/
- ↑ https://wagingnonviolence.org/2023/03/we-need-a-movement-that-addresses-the-trauma-of-fighting-for-a-burning-planet/
- ↑ https://transitionnetwork.org/news/editorial-sophy-banks-on-balance-or-burnout/
- ↑ https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FUYKpnDvJnmjYyr-5BuA78n3ubrC5CFc/view