Mental Health at Work Is More Than Self-Care
Self-care is important. But somewhere along the way, it became the default solution for workplace stress, burnout, and even trauma.
In the humanitarian sector, where the stakes are high and the pace relentless, self-care is necessary, but it’s not enough. Real workplace mental health requires something far bigger: systemic responsibility.
The Self-Care Trap
Over the past decade, self-care has been heavily promoted as the antidote to stress. While helpful, it can also send the message that the burden for staying well rests solely on the individual.
The problem? No amount of yoga, journaling, or meditation can fix structural causes of burnout…like chronic understaffing, unrealistic workloads, or toxic leadership.
Mental Health as a Collective Responsibility
Workplace well-being isn’t a solo project. It’s shaped by:
Work design — how jobs are structured and paced.
Organizational culture — what behaviors are rewarded or discouraged.
Leadership practices — how people are supported or undermined.
Policies and resources — the tangible supports for mental health.
When these elements work against employees, individual self-care can feel like bailing water from a sinking ship.
Shifting the Frame
Organizations committed to mental health go beyond wellness apps and resilience workshops. They:
Assess and reduce psychosocial hazards in the workplace.
Normalize conversations about mental health without stigma.
Train leaders in supportive practices, not just technical skills.
Align workloads with resources, avoiding chronic overload.
What This Means for Humanitarian Work
In high-pressure environments, the mental health conversation can’t be an afterthought. It must be embedded into strategy, operations, and leadership expectations.
When organizations take responsibility for creating healthy conditions, self-care becomes a complement…not a desperate necessity.
From Coping to Thriving
The ultimate goal isn’t just to help people cope with work. It’s to design work so that people can thrive. That requires shifting from an individual to a collective mindset, and from quick fixes to systemic change.
Holding space with care and solidarity — here’s to staying whole, together,
~ Kate
Thanks for reading The Olive Pages: Fieldnotes on care, clarity, and staying whole
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KRC provides coaching, psychosocial support, and organizational consulting to humanitarian professionals and mission-driven organizations worldwide. Based in lived experience and trauma-aware care, our work helps clients navigate burnout, moral injury, organizational change, and career transitions — while staying human in the process.