We all recognize the toll the pandemic has taken on our mental health but what we don’t often consider is what being in a helping profession does to our mental health. We are the ones working with new parents who’s child was just born with vision loss. We are helping students try to succeed and grow in school. We are the ones helping young adults with vision loss find a job or training so they can live a happy and productive life. We are the ones who help seniors that are terrified of having to move into a nursing home stay in their homes once a vision loss has occurred. Everything we do involves dealing with loss and grief. We encourage, educate, wipe tears, hold hands, give hugs, deal with further vision loss, work through failures, and celebrate successes. Furthermore, we do all of this while staying within the rules, regulations, and funds that are often inadequate. Finally, we do all these things without considering the toll it takes on us as professionals. This session will help professionals learn the signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue, burnout, depression, anxiety. It will also help professionals learn coping techniques.

Learning Objectives