HULL—In conversations surrounding mental health, the stigma is to treat mental health as a separate entity from other aspects of wellness. But Dr. Tara Boer said all aspects of health are connected, and impacting our past, present, and future.
Boer is a social work professor at Dordt University in Sioux Center and a mental health professional who specializes in trauma and neurobiology.
She spoke of a meeting of the Hull Chamber of Commerce on Monday as the chamber is promoting Mental Health Awareness Month through several community events and speakers.
“There is a strong relationship between child adversity and wellness later in life,” Boer said.
In a crowd represented by 15 local businesses, Boer cited research studies surrounding the Adverse Childhood Experiences questionnaire, which measures the types of abuses present in an individual’s childhood environment. Those who score higher on the ACE are more likely to suffer from physical ailments and mental health conditions including anxiety and depression.
“When you say, ‘Teach me about how to help mental health in the workplace,’ the first thing I would say is that you need to be trauma informed,” Boer said.
She said being mindful of an employee or co-worker’s underlying trauma requires a stance of curiosity and compassion rather than immediate judgment.
“You need to realize that when people are having problems, there’s probably a lot of things they’re not telling you, and there’s probably a lot of things they don’t even understand,” Boer said.
Chamber board president Dorinda Oostenink said speakers like Boer help businesses open conversation about employee assistance programs and counseling options.
“It’s always good for everybody to be aware of it because we spend a lot of time with our employees and our co-workers at our place of business,” Oostenink said.
For the wider community, the chamber planned several events in May to advocate for mental health. During “Chalk the Walk” throughout the month, the chamber is encouraging residents and businesses to write notes of encouragement on their driveways. Photos will be featured on Hull’s Facebook page.
Additionally, two Hull businesses, Anew Nutrition and The Grain House, are participating in the “Better Together” campaign established by several Sioux County health providers. Promotional stickers and drinks for purchase are available at these locations, in addition to several other businesses throughout Sioux County.
In terms of the workplace, Boer recommends businesses engage in scale-style questionnaires to gauge the well-being of their employees. She suggests coupling trauma-informed compassion and empathy with health structure and expectations, in collaboration with counseling centers.
“When we live in a meritocracy, pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps, figure-it-out kind of community, we tend to say, ‘Suck it up,’ and ‘Do better,’” Boer said.
She encourages businesses to support their employees in getting professional help when it is necessary.
“When you’re with your employees or with your co-workers, you have to be thinking, ‘What other things can we be surrounding them with that would help them feel safe, connected and secure?” Boer said.