Facilitating well-being with female social workers in northern Canada: A participatory narrative inquiry

Summary Limited information exists on the lived experiences and well-being of female social workers providing mental health services in northern Canada. Participatory narrative inquiry was utilized as a collaborative approach to gather stories from/with outsider female social worker mental health providers herein referred to as providers. Ten providers participated in this project through individual and group semistructured interviews in three phases. Transcribed interviews from each phase were analyzed through participatory narrative analysis to collaboratively generate themes, while ensuring the context of participant stories was maintained. Findings Collaborative participatory narrative analysis of participant stories revealed the following major themes: the work is complex and impactful including direct and/or indirect secondary trauma; safety and well-being supports are required; relationships are central to the work; and personal growth and understanding the trauma history of Indigenous peoples is crucial to carrying out northern trauma services. Applications/conclusion Providers believe that they need to feel safe and supported to protect their personal well-being and, in turn, to effectively carry out trauma services. However, current northern work environments lack networking, clinical supervision, and the safety supports required to meet the providers’ needs. Well-being support recommendations for providers included: adopt a strength-based attitude/outlook as well as an effective long-term relational team-based practice approach, improve networking through a “community of practice,” develop trauma-informed northern work-specific competencies and training, and advocate for safety improvements as well as governance agency provider supports.