This April marks Stress Awareness Month for 2025. Each year, this month is dedicated to increasing public awareness about the causes of stress and promote effective stress management techniques to enhance mental health and wellbeing.
The decision to work in the homelessness sector is often driven by personal values, and the desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others. This means that individuals are more likely to push their boundaries and invest more of themselves in their work, often at the expense of their own wellbeing.
Burnout is often normalised in the sector due to high caseloads and difficulties with staff retention and recruitment. Staff are also regularly exposed to trauma, both first-hand traumatic events within the workplace, and vicarious trauma by working with individuals. This can lead to staff experiencing nightmares, intrusive thoughts, sleep difficulties, hypervigilance, and even a shift in world view and beliefs about themselves.
With this in mind, it is important that staff start to prioritise their own wellbeing in the workplace and look out for their colleagues who may be experiencing stress, burnout or vicarious trauma. In honour of Stress Awareness Month this year, below are some useful starters to help:
- Practice self-awareness and refection – Always consider your reactions/responses to situations and recognise the signs/symptoms you may be experiencing.
- Practice mindfulness – Listen to Series 2, Episode 2 of Homeless Link’s Going Beyond podcast which discusses the importance of mindfulness and goes through some simple grounding exercises to reduce stress.
- Develop compassion for yourself and others – Be kind to yourself when things are tough at work or at home; avoid placing any blame on yourself.
- Practice self-care activities – Such as prioritise rest and ensure you are getting enough sleep, as well as adopting heathy eating habits.
- Set firm boundaries around work and home Iife – Ensure you have a good work-life balance to avoid burnout.
- Connect with others – Speak with colleagues and friends about anything you might be struggling with– chances are, they may be experiencing similar emotions.
- Speak openly with your manager – During supervision, but also in more informal settings.
- Link in with other health/support services where necessary – Such as counselling/therapy or wellbeing groups.
Although staff should take responsibility for looking after themselves, it is also equally important that organisations have a culture which encourages vulnerability and openness, with leaders and managers role modelling these behaviours.
Homeless Link have a range of resources for organisations to promote staff wellbeing, including guidance on reflective practice, information on psychologically-informed management, and a framework for organisations on how to be trauma-informed, which includes considerations on how to ensure the physical and psychological safety of staff.
When staff look after themselves, and work in an organisation which prioritises their wellbeing, they are better equipped to provide consistent, compassionate support to those experiencing homelessness.
Jo Turner is the National Practice Development Project Manager at Homeless Link, a Homewards Sector Partner.
