Understanding the Impact of Vicarious Trauma on Black Frontline Workers & Strategies for Coping

As Black service providers we have to contend with traumatic events that repeatedly happen in our communities. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Black communities coupled with the amplification of calls to address violent incidents of anti-Black racism, have further shown us how these events can have devastating effects on our mental health and leave us with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Join us for a learning lab session that explores how anti-Black racism and trauma in our working environments can impact our mental health and learn strategies to better support yourself, your program participants and your peers.

Learning Objectives:

• By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Identify mental health issues common to Black frontline service providers who serve clients that experience trauma
• Identify factors that may enhance or hinder your mental health
• Explain the benefits of good mental health
• Apply individual and organizational strategies to cope with the trauma
• Identify leadership approaches required in advancing the mental health agenda for frontline service providers

Facilitated by Olu Quamina, Founder and Executive Director of Concrete Roses Youth Services, a non-profit that specializes in engaging black youth in conflict with the law.

****** Black to the Future (BTTF) Learning Labs are designed to build the capacity of Black-led, Black-focused, and Black-service (B3) organizations’ and Black leaders. Learning labs are designed to provide B3 non-profit staff, volunteers, and board members increased knowledge and skills to enhance organizational capacity to provide social services to the Black community. These sessions are generously supported through funds from the City of Toronto and Laidlaw Foundation.