Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

The guest for this episode is Jerel Harvey, founder of Fedway Financial. One of the factors that influence people’s decisions to stay in jobs that they hate and tolerate exposure to toxic culture is related to their financial situation. When a worker is being exposed to micro-aggressive behavior, hazing, bullying, harassment, or even violence, the decision to speak up, ask for help, and especially seek other opportunities is often directly tied to the target’s ability to meet their basic needs for healthcare (which is often controlled by the employer), shelter and food, as well as the targe’s attachments to their standard of living. Those more financially secure are likelier to push back against harmful behavior. For other than those born to wealth, financial security takes not only determination, time, and effort; it takes a plan. Jerel dispels several misconceptions about financial planning and wealth management and clarifies that both are important concepts that can foster greater mental and emotional health.

In this episode of the Psych Health and Safety USA podcast, host Dr. I. David Daniels speaks with Russ Burnham, the Founder of Front-Line Mobile Health, a company that assists police, fire, and EMS agencies with both physical and behavioral assessment and support. Russ has an extensive military background and began when he enlisted as Combat Medic in 2001, shortly after the events of 9/11. During his time in the military, Burnham provided medical care to numerous men and women in austere environments, including two deployments to Afghanistan, where he served as the Senior Medical Advisor to the Afghan National Army's 201st Corps Surgeon and the Regional Hospital Commander who oversaw the medical care for the six most eastern provinces in Afghanistan and 25,000 Soldiers. Russ founded Front Line to utilize the lessons that he learned on the battlefield to assist members of the police, fire rescue, and emergency medical services from both a physical and psychological perspective in addressing many of the same kinds of challenges he saw when assisting combat veterans.

As much as the organization has the most significant responsibility for creating a psychologically healthy and safe environment, it would be naive to suggest that focusing on resiliency for people in the organization is not also important. There are real-life situations where emotional and even physical survival may depend on how resilient an individual can be in situations where the psychosocial hazards in the workplace cannot be eliminated. There are simply times when the work is complex and the hazards associated, especially with work responsibilities outside the organization’s control. Dr. Alessandria Polizzi uses her lived experience as a Human Resource Executive and a scholar to become laser-focused on helping humans in organizations be more resilient.

In this episode of the Psych Health and Safety USA podcast, host Dr. I. David Daniels will talk with two friends whose relationship is almost exclusively the result of their common interest in addressing workplace bullying. Janet Glover-Kerkvliet and Sonja Pitts are the co-founders of the Maryland Healthy Workplace Task Force, which continues to advocate for legislation to prevent bullying in the workplace. Both are also affiliates of the Workplace Bullying Institute. Nearly one-third of adult Americans (30%) said they directly experienced abusive conduct at work. Efforts to make the workplace safer by creating regulations have been taken up by many based on their experience. In this case, one with direct experience of being the target of bullying and another with experience as a therapist assisting targets have joined forces to help foster change. Janet and Sonja will share their views on the journey toward workplaces where bullying and exposure to other psychosocial hazards are a thing of the past.

This week's guest, Georgia Bryce-Hutchinson, was educated and trained as an environmental engineer when her lived experience in the workplace motivated her to understand better how the workplace was causing her to feel. This exploration led her to become certified as a Marriage and Family Therapist and Mental Health Consultant. She is also a speaker and author of "On Your Way to Meeting You: The Journey That Changes Everything" and owner of Building Families According to Pattern, LLC. Georgia combines her ability to think logically with her passion for robust mental health as a motivator to help individuals and families in her clinical practice, including those exposed to psychosocial hazards at work. She has also recently begun to focus on helping large organizations address mental health through training and consulting efforts. She believes that "you can not separate the person from the worker," and the work environment should be a place that facilitates growth rather than harm. In this episode, she'll share her thoughts with host Dr. I. David Daniels on why "Work Shouldn't Hurt Emotionally."

In Episode 23, host Dr. I. David Daniels is joined by a workplace bullying researcher with experience as a social worker and civil rights attorney. Ellen Cobb is also an attorney and author of three books, including her most recent “Managing Psychosocial Hazards and Work-Related Stress in Today’s Work Environment. International Insights for U. S. Organizations.” In the book and this episode, Ms. Cobb discusses her research regarding how countries around the world are managing psychosocial hazards and what organizations in the United States can learn from these other countries. One critique of the state of Psychological Health and Safety in the United States is the lack of regulation or adopted standards regarding psychosocial hazards and how they should be addressed. However, much of what we know in this country is the product of the research that’s been done on bullying in the workplace, which we recognize as the psychosocial hazards that we know the most about.

Oil and Gas account for approximately 3% of the global GDP. Petroleum products can be found in everything from personal protective equipment, packaging, and aspirin, to clothing, fuel for transportation, and even solar panels. Workers in this industry are exposed to a range of potential hazards at different production stages—whether on the electric lines, using heavy equipment, or working around flammable gases. They are also exposed to time pressure, harsh environmental conditions, and even isolation from friends and family. Each of these can affect their physical and mental health. In an environment that can place workers at risk, it’s imperative to ensure safety is not just about rules and preventative measures—it’s also a foundational value deeply embedded in an organization’s culture. The guest for this episode is James Junkin, the CEO of Mariner-Gulf Consulting and Services, LLC, a Louisiana-based environmental, safety & health/risk management firm. Mariner Gulf was founded in response to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (BP oil spill) disaster. A CEO turned safety professional, James has a passion and commitment to bringing workers home from high-hazard jobs and shares that passion during this discussion.

In the OSH Act, the U. S. Congress declared it to be “its purpose and policy, through the exercise of its powers to regulate commerce among the several States and with foreign nations and to provide for the general welfare, to assure so far as possible every working man and woman in the Nation safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources …by providing for research in the field of occupational safety and health, including the psychological factors involved, and by developing innovative methods, techniques, and approaches for dealing with occupational safety and health problems.” In 2003, the Total Worker Health® approach originated from the 2003 NIOSH Steps to a Healthier US Workforce Initiative. The goals of this initiative were to protect, support, and enhance workers’ health through comprehensive programs for safe and healthy work, integrated with health-supportive environments and access to adequate health care. In 2005, NIOSH developed a new NIOSH Work-Life Initiative in 2005, which sought to improve overall worker health through better work-based programs, policies, practices, and benefits. In 2011, NIOSH renamed “Work Life” to the Total Worker Health® Program, committed to developing knowledge focused on the integration of occupational safety and health protection and health promotion. This episode’s guest is Chia-Chia Chang, the Partnership and New Opportunity Development Coordinator in the Office for Total Worker Health at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Ms. Chang will share not only the history but the present and her view on what the future of worker health in the United States could be with a national focus on the broad spectrum of worker health.

Every year, approximately 200,000 U. S. military service members transition to civilian life. Many of these veterans become incredibly valued members of the civilian workforce. Most employers recognize and value the wide-ranging experience and transferable skills that veterans bring to the civilian workforce: An overwhelming 94% say that hiring veteran workers is appealing to their organization. As veterans prepare to meet the demands of the civilian workplace, many face unique challenges, such as finding job opportunities that match their military experience and skills. In this episode, host Dr. I. David Daniels will speak with two veterans of slightly difficult generations and service experiences in the same branch of the military. Michael Carson and Isaiah Hughes share their perspective on not only life as a veteran of the armed forces, but they provide their view on how employers can be more psychologically healthy and safe for veterans. It is not enough to hire veterans; it’s important to create a safe space so former members of the military can both bring their whole selves and be their best selves

A significant portion of the U.S. population lives in areas lacking mental-health workers. Residents of underserved areas have roughly a quarter of the providers they need, in aggregate, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation says. Additionally, more than 150 million people live in federally designated mental health professional shortage areas. The global pandemic has exacerbated this shortage by accelerating the departure of tenured therapists, combined with the lack of entrants into the field, particularly in rural communities and communities of color. Dr. Tara Miller, Ph.D., is a Licensed Counselor, National Certified Counselor, Master Addictions Counselor, Certified Professional Counseling Supervisor, Board Certified Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinician, and Certified Anger Management Specialist in her hometown, a city with a population of 5,000. She is also a business owner, the leader of a non-profit, and a member of the city council. Dr. Miller believes that approaches to mental health should be customized based on the person. Dr. Miller believes cookie-cutter approaches are ineffective and can signal potential “compassion fatigue” or burnout for the clinician. To avoid this challenge, her non-profit “Choose You 365” focuses on encouraging each person to put themselves first and attend to the “self-fullness” necessary to be effective in helping professions. https://chooseu365.org/