Non-fatal and fatal overdoses are traumatic events that have been increasing over the past 20 years and disproportionately impacting rural communities in the United States (Winstanley, 2020). The human suffering caused by the opioid epidemic and ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic contribute to increased symptoms of compassion fatigue (burnout and secondary traumatic stress) among treatment and peer recovery support providers (Berry, 2021). These symptoms can impact the physical and mental well-being of providers and diminish the quality of care they deliver. This 2-part webinar series will take a deeper dive into compassion fatigue to focus on grief/loss, collective trauma, peer and professional worker loss; and self-care.
Participants will:
Kathie Supiano, PhD, LCSW,FT, FGSA, APHSW-C is an Associate Professor in the College of Nursing, and the director of Caring Connections: A Hope and Comfort in Grief Program at the University of Utah College of Nursing. She teaches Interdisciplinary Approaches to Palliative Care for graduate students in Pharmacy, Social Work and Nursing. Dr. Supiano’s research is in clinical interventions in complicated grief, prevention of adverse grief outcomes, suicide survivorship, overdose grief and prison hospice. She has been a practicing clinical social worker and psychotherapist for over 40 years. Her clinical practice has included care of older adults with depression and multiple chronic health concerns, end-of-life care, and bereavement care. Dr. Supiano is a Fellow in the Gerontological Society of America, and a Fellow of Thanatology.
