Student Building (Block) SMC Room 21
Psychiatry Section Members: Dr. Richard Baggé, Dr. Samuel Thielman
Title: Resilience and Sustaining Global Workers
Abstract: Psychiatry has played an increasing role in the support of Christian expatriate staff working cross-culturally. Mental health issues have always affected cross-cultural workers but were underreported historically. This has helped shaped some unrealistic expectations for mission staff. Attention to mental health in cross-cultural workers has increased with more candor in social media and more willingness to access services.
Today, cross-cultural mission workers frequently work in impoverished or conflict-prone settings with more exposure to violence. Psychological services for cross-cultural workers were developed in the late 1960s and psychiatric services were introduced in the late 1980s. The role of psychiatrists in service development and delivery to cross-cultural workers will be highlighted. New opportunities to address the needs of the church in traumatized communities will also be addressed.
Missionaries and other overseas Christian workers are subject to unique stressors, and providing proper support for this group requires a commitment from sending organizations. Despite the fact that in the past mental health problems in missions have been neglected, missions organizations have developed an increasing capacity for supporting missionaries. This presentation describes best practices for behavioral health support. We will discuss how the organizations we have worked with have reduced stigmatization, developed sound procedures for evaluating, supporting, and triaging missionaries and their families who develop psychiatric problems. We will review current medical thinking about resilience, compassion fatigue, vicarious traumatization, and burnout and discuss how these concepts can be used to inform medical support for expatriate Christian workers.
VIDEO Here
Baggé Presentation Here
Thielman Presentation Here
