Helper, Healer, Mitigator: The Essential Role of the Human Services Provider in Current and Post-Pandemic Climates

In the heart of the current COVID-19 outbreak, individuals are experiencing higher rates of mental and emotional distress associated with the unpredictability of a pandemic experience. Human services providers (HSPs) serve as essential supports for individuals, families, and communities affected by...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Brittany G. Suggs, Lauren B. Robins, Megan Cannedy, Alexandra C. Gantt, Dana L. Brookover, Kaprea F. Johnson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: National Organization for Human Services 2021-09-01
Series:Journal of Human Services
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.52678/001c.75379
_version_ 1797652847754477568
author Brittany G. Suggs
Lauren B. Robins
Megan Cannedy
Alexandra C. Gantt
Dana L. Brookover
Kaprea F. Johnson
author_facet Brittany G. Suggs
Lauren B. Robins
Megan Cannedy
Alexandra C. Gantt
Dana L. Brookover
Kaprea F. Johnson
author_sort Brittany G. Suggs
collection DOAJ
description In the heart of the current COVID-19 outbreak, individuals are experiencing higher rates of mental and emotional distress associated with the unpredictability of a pandemic experience. Human services providers (HSPs) serve as essential supports for individuals, families, and communities affected by the current pandemic. However, relatively little guidance currently exists on the work of HSPs in response to COVID-19, including strategies and interventions that HSPs can employ to effectively address the growing mental and emotional health demands during the pandemic. In response, this article identifies the vital role and strategic response approaches of HSPs during a pandemic crisis. Further, we explore how HSPs can leverage, in a practical way, existing strategies within their helper, healer, and mitigator capacities to sustain individual and community care in the immediate, intermediate, and extended time frames of a pandemic occurrence. This is the first of two articles comprising the special issue’s section on Social Systems in the Moment.
first_indexed 2024-03-11T16:34:52Z
format Article
id doaj.art-14f3b62f85044db4bd898c141e436e69
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2689-7059
2689-7040
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-11T16:34:52Z
publishDate 2021-09-01
publisher National Organization for Human Services
record_format Article
series Journal of Human Services
spelling doaj.art-14f3b62f85044db4bd898c141e436e692023-10-23T15:41:35ZengNational Organization for Human ServicesJournal of Human Services2689-70592689-70402021-09-01402Helper, Healer, Mitigator: The Essential Role of the Human Services Provider in Current and Post-Pandemic ClimatesBrittany G. SuggsLauren B. RobinsMegan CannedyAlexandra C. GanttDana L. BrookoverKaprea F. JohnsonIn the heart of the current COVID-19 outbreak, individuals are experiencing higher rates of mental and emotional distress associated with the unpredictability of a pandemic experience. Human services providers (HSPs) serve as essential supports for individuals, families, and communities affected by the current pandemic. However, relatively little guidance currently exists on the work of HSPs in response to COVID-19, including strategies and interventions that HSPs can employ to effectively address the growing mental and emotional health demands during the pandemic. In response, this article identifies the vital role and strategic response approaches of HSPs during a pandemic crisis. Further, we explore how HSPs can leverage, in a practical way, existing strategies within their helper, healer, and mitigator capacities to sustain individual and community care in the immediate, intermediate, and extended time frames of a pandemic occurrence. This is the first of two articles comprising the special issue’s section on Social Systems in the Moment.https://doi.org/10.52678/001c.75379
spellingShingle Brittany G. Suggs
Lauren B. Robins
Megan Cannedy
Alexandra C. Gantt
Dana L. Brookover
Kaprea F. Johnson
Helper, Healer, Mitigator: The Essential Role of the Human Services Provider in Current and Post-Pandemic Climates
Journal of Human Services
title Helper, Healer, Mitigator: The Essential Role of the Human Services Provider in Current and Post-Pandemic Climates
title_full Helper, Healer, Mitigator: The Essential Role of the Human Services Provider in Current and Post-Pandemic Climates
title_fullStr Helper, Healer, Mitigator: The Essential Role of the Human Services Provider in Current and Post-Pandemic Climates
title_full_unstemmed Helper, Healer, Mitigator: The Essential Role of the Human Services Provider in Current and Post-Pandemic Climates
title_short Helper, Healer, Mitigator: The Essential Role of the Human Services Provider in Current and Post-Pandemic Climates
title_sort helper healer mitigator the essential role of the human services provider in current and post pandemic climates
url https://doi.org/10.52678/001c.75379
work_keys_str_mv AT brittanygsuggs helperhealermitigatortheessentialroleofthehumanservicesproviderincurrentandpostpandemicclimates
AT laurenbrobins helperhealermitigatortheessentialroleofthehumanservicesproviderincurrentandpostpandemicclimates
AT megancannedy helperhealermitigatortheessentialroleofthehumanservicesproviderincurrentandpostpandemicclimates
AT alexandracgantt helperhealermitigatortheessentialroleofthehumanservicesproviderincurrentandpostpandemicclimates
AT danalbrookover helperhealermitigatortheessentialroleofthehumanservicesproviderincurrentandpostpandemicclimates
AT kapreafjohnson helperhealermitigatortheessentialroleofthehumanservicesproviderincurrentandpostpandemicclimates