The mental health of staff at violence against women organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from a mixed-methods study of service providers in Canada's largest city.

OBJECTIVES: Staff at violence against women (VAW) organizations provide essential services for survivors of violence. The increase in VAW during the COVID-19 pandemic placed additional pressures on VAW staff. We investigated the impacts of the pandemic on the mental health of VAW staff in the Greater Toronto Area to inform recommendations for policy and practice. METHODS: We conducted a community-based, mixed-methods study on the processes, experiences, and outcomes of adapting VAW programming during the pandemic using a sequential explanatory approach. Throughout 2021, we conducted a survey of direct support and leadership staff who worked on VAW services ("VAW staff") followed by semi-structured interviews with VAW staff purposively sampled from the survey. We descriptively analyzed quantitative survey data on the mental health of 127 VAW staff. We then applied thematic analysis to qualitative data from 18 interviews with VAW staff. We used the qualitative data to support interpretation and enrich the quantitative findings regarding staff mental health. RESULTS: In the survey, 81% of leadership and 61% of direct support staff indicated that their work was more distressing during the pandemic. Participants reported moderate symptoms of vicarious trauma and mild symptoms of anxiety and depression. We generated three themes from the qualitative data to help explain these findings: (1) challenges related to changing work environments; (2) distress over not meeting client needs; and (3) difficulties in adapting self-care strategies in response to pandemic stressors. CONCLUSION: VAW organizations require increased resources and flexible funding to hire and retain more staff to respond to higher and more complex caseloads during public health emergencies. With more structural supports in place, VAW organizations could create more time and space to develop their trauma-informed organizational practices: for example, establishing a culture of connection and learning among staff virtually and in-person and facilitating a range of self-care opportunities.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIFS: Le personnel des organisations de lutte contre la violence envers les femmes (VEF) fournit des services essentiels aux survivantes de la violence. L'augmentation de la VEF pendant la pandémie de COVID-19 a exercé des pressions supplémentaires sur le personnel de la VEF. Nous avons étudié les impacts de la pandémie sur la santé mentale du personnel de la VEF dans la région du Grand Toronto afin de formuler des recommandations pour les politiques et les pratiques. MéTHODES: Nous avons mené une étude communautaire basée sur des méthodes mixtes sur les processus, les expériences et les résultats de l'adaptation des programmes de VEF pendant la pandémie, en utilisant une approche explicative séquentielle. Tout au long de l'année 2021, nous avons mené une enquête auprès personnel de première ligne et des cadres travaillant sur les services de VEF (personnel de VEF), suivie d'entretiens semi-structurés avec un échantillon intentionnel de ce personnel tiré de l'enquête. Nous avons analysé de manière descriptive les données quantitatives de l'enquête sur la santé mentale de 127 membres du personnel de VEF. Nous avons ensuite appliqué une analyse thématique aux données qualitatives provenant de 18 entretiens avec le personnel de VEF. Nous avons utilisé les données qualitatives pour soutenir l'interprétation et enrichir les résultats quantitatifs concernant la santé mentale du personnel. RéSULTATS: Dans l'enquête, 81 % des cadres et 61 % du personnel de première ligne ont indiqué que leur travail était plus stressant pendant la pandémie. Les participants ont signalé des symptômes modérés de traumatisme indirect et des symptômes légers d'anxiété et de dépression. Nous avons dégagé trois thèmes à partir des données qualitatives pour aider à expliquer ces résultats : (1) défis liés aux environnements de travail changeants; (2) détresse liée à l'incapacité de répondre aux besoins des clients; et (3) difficultés à adapter les stratégies de soins personnels en réponse aux facteurs de stress de la pandémie. CONCLUSION: Les organisations de VEF ont besoin de ressources accrues et de financements flexibles pour recruter et retenir plus de personnel afin de répondre à des charges de travail plus élevées et plus complexes pendant les urgences de santé publique. Avec davantage de soutiens structurels en place, les organisations de VEF pourraient dégager plus de temps et d'espace pour développer leurs pratiques organisationnelles tenant compte des traumatismes. Par exemple, établir une culture de connexion et d'apprentissage entre le personnel, à la fois virtuellement et en personne, et faciliter une gamme d'opportunités de soins personnels.

CHAMPP4KIDS: Mixed methods study protocol to evaluate acceptability and feasibility of Parenting for Lifelong Health materials in a Canadian context.

BACKGROUND: Parents and caregivers play a key role in children's healthy development and well-being. Traditional parenting interventions promote positive parenting practices and are key to preventing child maltreatment. However, numerous barriers can limit access to programs, barriers which were further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Parenting for Lifelong Health group developed mass media and public health communication materials to promote positive caregiving behaviours on a population level. The Champions of Positive Parenting 4 Kids (CHAMPP4KIDS) study will examine the acceptability and feasibility of these materials for service providers and caregivers of children aged 2-6 years in Ontario, Canada. METHODS: This study will use a convergent mixed-methods design. Consenting service providers (n = 200) and caregivers (n = 100) will complete a quantitative survey to rate, rank and give feedback on Parenting for Lifelong Health tip sheets and social media ads. Caregivers will also complete self-report scales measuring depression and anxiety. We will hold focus group discussions with a sub-sample of surveyed providers (n = 40) and caregivers (n = 25). An adapted Trials of Improved Practices methodology will explore caregiver perspectives after implementing the tip sheets. Primary quantitative outcomes will be descriptive statistics of rankings, Likert Scale scores and descriptive analysis of caregiver depression and anxiety. Qualitative data will be analyzed using Rapid Qualitative Inquiry and triangulated through a convergent coding matrix. DISCUSSION: The Parenting for Lifelong Health COVID-19 parenting materials offer succinct, engaging parenting information in a mass media format that addresses some challenges associated with accessing in-person programming. The CHAMPP4KIDS study will provide mixed methods insights on the materials' acceptability and feasibility from different groups in a Canadian context, with a focus on marginalized families. The use of Trials of Improved Practices methodology could prove a useful tool for participant-led adaptation of existing parenting, early childhood development and other health intervention materials.