Like any other community, those of us in advocacy endure circumstances unique to the work we do. As thought workers, there’s an especially noticeable toll on our mental health.
When it comes to our mental health, no one enjoys the luxury of a script to help them navigate the difference between present day hurdles and repeat potholes from the past. While I am thankful that the month of May is dedicated to mental health advocacy and awareness, those who face the challenges of anxiety, depression, and manic episodes (just to name a few), probably wish their bouts were only one month out of the year. That would make navigating the challenges so much easier.
There’s no question that politics can be messy, draining, and can take its toll. I admit that I still don’t have the hang of mentally preparing for that fateful news update or client call that kicks off a fire drill of calls, texts, and intel digging to combat a newly introduced poison pill piece of legislation.
Those in government relations face the tidal waves of bad press on a priority bill, an interested party meeting going south, and a budget amendment that didn’t quite make the cut without explanation. In those cases, your longterm mental health and ability to weather the storms of politics are often driven by, and reflected in, how you choose to manage your reactions and the quality of people with whom you surround yourself.
In the last decade, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to experience and analyze my own ability to weather those storms. I’ve had my share of missteps and wins along the way. Here’s what I’ve learned:
Community is key
Those we surround ourselves with can be an incredible source of resilience as we endure the stressors of the work. Like any business, there are going to be those who choose to be jerks in their interactions with colleagues. But, just the same, there are more than a fair share who pay it forward through kindness that help us find success. Those who opt in to community bolster each other, providing a much-needed mental health boost during hectic times.
But it’s up to us to build it
But that work is a two-way street. Each of us has to own our role in providing that support for one another. In a field where trust is our most valued – and squandered – currency, that takes a lot of work. You may have to double down on the kindness you extend to others. You have to begin by giving that support without an expectation of receiving. You have to opt-in.
The reality is that every field faces its own unique set of challenges. Those challenges force us to grow and learn. When we care about the work that we do, those challenges can become much more personal. The same is true in advocacy.
If you’re serious about being in this field – as a professional or a volunteer advocate – you have to get serious about your mental health. Whether that means seeing a professional counselor or not is a deeply personal decision. But until we acknowledge the toll this work takes on those of us engaged in it regularly, I think we’ll struggle to help the casual activists in our networks navigate their own mental health friction points.
Let’s be better about owning the work we have to do for ourselves so we can show up better prepared to support those volunteers and activists who can suffer the biggest mental health swings in advocacy.
Part of the Possible 