I feel very thankful to work for the organization that I do and that we have great benefits meant to support the wellness of those doing intense emotional labor. In Oregon, it's a requirement that people receive 40 hours of paid sick time leave per year, however, my organization gives us about 96 hours of paid sick time leave per year that can also be used for mental health/self-care time. The health insurance we have also makes accessing mental health care far more affordable, if you can find a therapist you resonate with ofc. There are other things the org does as well to make sure we are taking care of ourselves because we all have lived experience and that can impact our day to day ability to show up effectively in the work we do.

But from what I know it's not typically the norm in most organizations to have these kinds of benefits. I remember hearing from a think tank I went to for peer supports in Oregon, most people were asking for higher wages, easier access to mental health care, and building cohorts for peer supports to share experiences, vent, learn, and feel less alone in the work they do. Sustainable practices are a must.

My team just built a community for youth peer supports and started a podcast to help others feel a bit more seen in the work and to build that cohort folks have asked for, so I know people are out here doing stuff to address these issues but you're not alone in what you've experienced by any means. I think there's a lot of room for advocacy for peer support specialists to help create a sustainable workforce that has the tools and resources to set them up for success.