The training focuses on skill-building related to mental health and resilience for epidemiologists and public health professionals at all career stages, managing up and down. It equips with strategies to effectively handle daily stressors, create a supportive work environment, and navigate the increased pressures of responding to public health emergencies.

The vision behind this training is to cultivate a balanced and resilient public health workforce, foster enhanced team collaboration and leadership, and ultimately elevate the profession to effectively and safely address public health challenges, positively impacting the served communitiesand society at large. 

The training is a two-hour standalone, on-demand learning course thatincludes three lessons and a final quiz. Within the course, learners will apply concepts with interactive practices, hands-on worksheets with examples, and journal prompts that offer guidance for ongoing reflection exercises.

A course toolbox combines all downloadable resources, including the worksheets, journal prompts, as well as audio recordings with meditations and other resources, for continuous learning and support. 

Learners are welcome to return to the toolbox as needed or download the tools. After completing the course, access the toolbox here. 

Course Learning Objectives

• Engage in the conversation of mental health and burnout, and create a shared reality.
• Practice self-regulation strategies to navigate emotions and stress effectively.
• Develop authentic and connecting interactions across power imbalances. 

Lesson 1 Mental Health Landscape of Epidemiologists and Public Health Professionals

By the end of the lesson, participants will be able to:

1. Summarize the key stressors of public health professionals. 
2. Discuss the prevalence of mental health conditions among public health professionals. 
3. Specify the impact of key stressors on public health practicioners. 
4. Describe the need to respond proactively to key stressors of public health professionals. 
5. Identify strategies to address key stressors and mental health distress in public health professionals. 

Lesson 2 Self-regulating the Nervous System Through Emergencies and Times of Stress

By the end of the lesson, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the impact of stress on the nervous system. 
2. Articulate signs of dysregulation as they manifest in the self and others. 
3. Identify personal triggers and how they impact their mental health and performance. 
4. Connect their default behaviors and unintended consequences as innate reactions to stress. 
5. Practice proven self-regulation techniques. 

Lesson 3 Creating and Maintaining Connections Across Power Dynamics in Times of Stress

By the end of the lesson, participants will be able to:

1. Describe what intentions lead to supportive interactions across power dynamics. 
2. Discern resonant languages from our automatic responses and explain different resonant languages to foster connection. 
3. Translate judgements into needs and requests. 
4. Navigate tense situations and conflicting priorities. 
5. Name strategies to initiate conversations about mental health and burnout across power dynamics. 

Lesson 4 Learning Checks

By the end of the lesson, participants will be able to:

1. Engage in the conversation of mental health and burnout, and create a shared reality. 
2. Practice self-regulation strategies to navigate emotions and stress effectivelt. 
3. Develop authentic and connecting interactions across power imbalances. 

This training series was funded by CDC Cooperative Agreement No: 1 NU38OT000297-03-00. The contents of this training are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC. The training was developed by the Region 2 Public Health Training Center at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, led by Principal Investigator Dr. Christian Gloria, Assistant Director Melinda Lippert, Instructional Designer Shwetha Bhaskar, and Subject Matter Expert Carina Schmid, with support from CSTE staff members Nicola Marsden-Haug and Dr. Jessica Arrazola.

Competencies: 

• 1.2 – Data Analytics and Assessment Skills – Describes factors that affect the health of a community
• 2.1 – Public Health Sciences Skills – Describes the source of factors affecting community health
• 2.2 – Public Health Sciences Skills – Collaborates with others to support public health activities
• 3.1 – Communication Skills – Determines communication strategies
• 3.3 – Communication Skills – Facilitates accessible communication among individuals, groups, and organizations
• 6.3 – Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills – Engages in performance management of self and other team members