Community Wellness Check-in

Virtual Community Wellness Check-in
Presented by the NASW Freelance Committee
Date: Wednesday, May 21
Start time: 1 p.m. Eastern / 10 a.m. Pacific

Event access link: https://www.nasw.org/virtual-events-auditorium (NASW member login required)

A reminder that per NASW's Code of Conduct attendees must use their full name in their Zoom display in order to be admitted. Please review the code for additional expected behaviors and review the additional privacy agreements that apply to these Wellness Check ins, which are listed below. A shared set of expectations is crucial to creating a welcoming and supportive shared space.

In response to the many mental health and career challenges that science communicators are currently facing, NASW is hosting a series of unstructured, informal socials where you can share thoughts in a supportive space. Drop in and visit for as long as you can anytime during the hour. All NASW members are invited.

While the agreements below are intended to foster a supportive space, what participants choose to disclose is up to them. Participants are encouraged to talk as openly as they like about the current state of their career and mental health. Given the overarching topic, participants should expect exposure to conversation that is a little more personal and private than everyday conversations among colleagues. Unless a participant gives explicit consent, whatever is said in the meeting must not leave the meeting.

This is part of a series of Community Wellness Check-ins. Future dates tentatively include Wednesdays July 16, September 17 and November 19.

#SciWriThrive

Agreements and privacy

In addition to abiding by NASW's Code of Conduct, all participants agree to abide by these principles in order to create a space of solidarity and support:

Every participant must respect the privacy of all participants by keeping the identities of all participants and the content of all discussions in the forum in strict confidence. What is said in the meetup must stay there. No recording or screenshots are permitted.
Participants in this Community Wellness Check-in should appear on camera to introduce themselves when the discussion begins. You may turn your camera off after introducing yourself to the group, participating with audio (but not chat only).
Every participant has an equal voice and responsibility. Everyone should have a chance to share.
No one person should monopolize the group or the time.
Every participant strives to be an active listener, offering compassion and encouragement and speaking from a place of care.
Every participant strives to be non-judgmental, encouraging, and supportive. Participants must not engage in biased, demeaning, intimidating, coercive, or harassing/hostile conduct or commentary, whether seriously or in jest (e.g., based on power differential, gender [sex, identity, expression], sexual orientation, race, ethnicity or national origin, religion, marital status, veteran status, age, body size or other physical appearance, disability, socioeconomic status, or other identities). Do not comment seriously or in jest on personal appearance or assumed or known reasons why a person chooses to participate via video, audio, or other means—this is the opposite of respectful and welcoming conduct.
Participants agree not to share Zoom links or meeting access instructions.
Participants agree that whatever is said in a meeting will not be used as information to influence their or their coworkers' or colleagues’ decision to hire, work with, or otherwise impact their or their co-workers’ or colleagues’ professional relationship with another participant.
Every participant understands that NASW is a 501c6 nonprofit. By participating in the network, forum, discussions, or meetings, participants are agreeing to waive all claims against the officers, board, and facilitators of the group.

It is our mutual responsibility to respect these agreements. If you have questions or concerns during the Community Wellness Check-in, please message the host using direct chat. If you are in a breakout room, return to the main session to locate or chat with a host. Any NASW member or anyone participating in an NASW-sponsored event can report harmful behavior or a potential violation of the Code of Conduct using this form.

Limitations and additional resources

This event aims to serve as a member-run space for finding solidarity in the professional and personal challenges we share, which can include sharing mental health challenges without having to explain their complexities and depth. While sharing of mental health challenges is warmly welcomed, NASW’s network is an informal peer network, not group therapy. It is not run by doctors, mental health professionals, or trained facilitators and is not intended to be a substitute for therapy. We encourage participants to use the resources below to explore therapy or other forms of professional help as needed. If you have thoughts of harming yourself or others, please contact a doctor immediately and/or contact:

988lifeline.org or dial or text 988 (Available in 240 languages within the United States)

Additional resources for mental health support, many of which are specific to media, can be found at the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma. This re-cap of the October 2020 ScienceWriters session "Taking care of yourself" has some tips and links to additional resources, as well.