Supporting your colleagues: Yes, but how? Exploring the positive and negative support offered by colleagues to child protection workers exposed to a potentially traumatic event at work

Auteurs

Steve Geoffrion, School of Psychoeducation, Université de Montréal; Trauma Studies Center, Research Center Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal
Gabrielle Lebrun, School of Psychoeducation, Université de Montréal; Trauma Studies Center, Research Center Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal
Valerie Arenzon, Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal
Florence Ménard, Trauma Studies Center, Research Center Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal; Department of Psychology, Université Du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Stéphane Guay, Trauma Studies Centre, Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal; School of Criminology, Université de Montréal

Type de document

Études primaires

Année de publication

2025

Langue

Anglais

Titre de la revue

Child Protection and Practice

Résumé

Child protection workers (CPWs) are frequently exposed to potentially traumatic events (PTE) at work. These events have many psychological and organizational consequences. Without adequate intervention, these effects can persist and worsen over time. Social support is known to be a determining factor in the recovery of individuals exposed to a PTE, particularly support from colleagues in the work setting. However, little is known about how this support from colleagues manifests itself after a PTE or how it is perceived by the individual involved.

Objective

The current study sought to explore the support offered by colleagues after a PTE and identify supportive actions perceived as either positive or negative by the victims.

Method

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 CPWs in the Montreal area of Canada, all of whom had been exposed to a PTE within the previous 0–30 days. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

Supportive actions reported by participants fell into four categories: emotional, instrumental, informational or evaluation support. Regardless of whether participants received one or multiple types of support, emotional support emerged as the most appreciated according to the participants’ experiences. Positive support offered by colleagues aligned with the key principles of early post-traumatic intervention, while negative support was mainly explained by a lack of organizational resources and a work-culture that trivialized violence.

Conclusion

The study suggests that organizations should prioritize approaches that recognize and validate emotions before introducing other types of support.

Mots-clés

Travailleur social, Social worker, Services sociaux, Social services, Violence, Santé mentale, Mental health, Programme de prévention, Health and safety program, Stress post-traumatique, Posttraumatic stress, Comportement humain, Human behaviour, Effet psychologique, Psychological effect, Participation des travailleurs, Worker participation, Facteur de stress, Stress factor, Intervention de crise, Crisis intervention, Enquête par entrevue, Interview survey

Numéro de projet IRSST

n/a

Citation recommandée

Geoffrion, S., Lebrun, G., Arenzon, V., Ménard, F. et Guay, S. (2025). Supporting your colleagues: yes, but how? Exploring the positive and negative support offered by colleagues to child protection workers exposed to a potentially traumatic event at work. Child Protection and Practice, 5, article 100184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100184