We are joined by GRAZE Crisis Response Director, Erin McNally, LVT to understand what a critical incident is, what the CISM response looks like and how peer from within the Aquarium and Zoo industry can get involved.
Author Archives: zoomentalhealthsupport
Virtual Support Group
Last year we had the opportunity to beta test a new service. Upon completion, the response from participants was impactful. We decided to make the virtual support group a monthly service offered to anyone in the zoo and aquarium industry. We invited GRAZE Virtual Group Facilitator Valerie Bogie, to provide more details on what theContinue reading “Virtual Support Group”
Peer Support Services
Learn from Director of Supportive Services, Hannah Fullmer what Peer Support is, benefits and how to get started.
Celebrate the Small Wins
As we wrap-up another year, for some this is a time of reflection, other’s a time of planning. Whether it’s next year’s budget, collection planning or simply setting personal goals, we tend to focus on the big achievements and major events. Often getting lost in, or even overwhelmed by the day to day grind ofContinue reading “Celebrate the Small Wins”
Gratitude: More than an Attitude, But a Science.
November seems to be synonymous with an “Attitude of Gratitude” and practicing being thankful for everything in your life. However, sometimes that can come off as invalidating, especially if one is going through a hard time! An Attitude of Gratitude is not a fad or promotion of toxic positivity (though it sometimes feels that way) but a well-being practice based in science.
The Truth About Self-Care
When you hear someone talk about self-care, what comes to mind? Is it, relaxing in a spa, sitting in a quiet space journaling, meditating peacefully for hours on end…? That it is expensive and time consuming? Well, then you my friend may be stuck in the commercialized awareness of self-care! This picturesque imagery of a calmContinue reading “The Truth About Self-Care”
Healthy Teams Engage in Productive Conflict
In fifth grade I volunteered to be a part of my school’s conflict management team. This was a group of students, whose sole purpose was to walk around the playground and look for kids in conflict and then walk them through a process for resolving their differences. When I entered zookeeping, I quickly learned thatContinue reading “Healthy Teams Engage in Productive Conflict”
The Terrible Ten
This month we are discussing a difficult topic; Critical Incidents. The World Health Organization (WHO), describes a critical incident as an event out of the range of normal experience, one which is sudden and unexpected, involves the perception of a threat to life and can include elements of physical and emotional loss. They go furtherContinue reading “The Terrible Ten”
Small Approximations to Create Big Change in Animal Care Work Culture: Overcoming A Toxic Environment
According to a recent study, there are five behaviors that create a toxic workplace environment. The study found that while an organization may have a good culture overall, toxic individuals or teams of toxic individual’s aka “pockets of toxicity”; can have a profound impact on workplace culture. Knowing how to spot these behaviors in oneself and our team can help our industry transition into an industry known for valuing the welfare of the people working as much as it values the welfare of wildlife it cares for.
We May Work in Enclosed Spaces but Let’s Talk Openly About Mental Health
Written by: Hannah Fullmer What better way to kick start this blog, then during Mental Health Awareness Month. From May 1st to 31st in 2022 the Mental Health America organization will be supporting the theme of “Back to Basics; foundational knowledge about mental health and information about what people can do if their mental healthContinue reading “We May Work in Enclosed Spaces but Let’s Talk Openly About Mental Health “