Mental health professionals who work with families in crisis are faced with a number of challenges every day. Although many of them are very dedicated in caring for others they neglect their own needs despite the fact that they are faced with particularly strenuous circumstances that tax their recourses both mentally and physically. When mental health professionals though do not address their needs and do not allow time for self-renewal, creativity, relaxation, self-care and support they often experiences work-related mental health problems. In order for mental health professionals to effectively intervene in the family and community life in a time of crisis and remain well balanced themselves it is necessary they focus on the prevention or alleviation of such work-related mental health problems. The issues discussed in this presentation are particularly relevant for health professionals themselves, as well as those who wish to support and appropriately supervise staff members and patient caregivers.

This presentation will identify the personality characteristics of the health professionals who work with families in crisis, as well as the particular issues that relate to working with this population that might encourage the presence of work-related problems. Also, the characteristics of the settings and the institutions in which professionals who work with families in crisis often function in and the manner in which environmental stressors present might influence their mental health will be identified.

Ways of assessing the potential risk for work-related mental health problems will be presented as well. A variety of self-care interventions aiming to prevent or alleviate work-related mental health problems in health professionals will be described as well as suggestions for their most successful implementation. Suggested self-care activities will target the physical state, the mental state, the social circumstances of the mental health professional and the environmental and structural characteristics of the workplace. Finally, issues related to the supervision and support of staff members working with families in crisis will be presented.