Mental Health Awareness Week: Self-care as a Feminist Act
May 5th to the 11th marks Mental Health Awareness Week. This year at Luke’s Place, we are focusing on the role that self-care plays in sustaining feminist movements, particularly for women impacted by intimate partner violence (IPV) and those who work tirelessly to support them.
Taking time to care for yourself can sometimes be met with guilt or shame, but self-care is a feminist act. For those involved in feminist, anti-oppression, or healing justice work, caring for oneself isn’t indulgent – it is essential.
Self-care for Survivors
It is crucial to take care of yourself as a survivor during the family court process. Self-care can help mitigate the emotional and physical impacts of trauma and help reclaim a sense of self safety.
Our Family Court and Beyond workbook includes practical tools of support including:
- Emotional safety planning with self-care in mind
- Self-care plans for court days
These tools can help you create a self-care plan that honours your mind, body, and spirit. You can also explore our self-care checklist for more support.
Self-care for Survivor’s Support Systems
For loved ones, family, and friends supporting survivors, caring for yourself is just as important. Trauma doesn’t only affect the person experiencing it directly; it can also affect those walking alongside them.
Supporting someone else also means making space for your own well-being, including:
- Building your own support network
- Setting boundaries
- Making time for rest, joy and connection
Our Supporting After Separation toolkit offers guidance on how to provide meaningful support while also looking after your own well-being.
For Frontline Workers
The emotional labor of showing up for others can be immense. Frontline workers deserve intentional, structured self-care that is embedded into the fabric of their lives, organizations, and communities. Know when to ask for help – from your manager, peers, or loved ones. Self-care isn’t about luxury – it’s about preservation, resistance, and rest. When we care for ourselves, we also show up for our communities more sustainably.
Caring for yourself can happen in the workplace through things like:
- Regular debriefs and supports with supervisors and co-workers
- Frequent supervisor check ins
- Utilizing employee benefits and programs
- Setting work/life boundaries and balance
- Learning grounding skills
Self-care should also happen outside the workplace, including things like:
- Maintaining your lifestyle
- Eating regularly
- Building relationships outside of work
- Accessing support services like therapy or counselling
- Trying new hobbies or doing the things you love
- Resting
This Mental Health Awareness Week, we invite you to explore the resources we’ve linked above and take a moment to reflect on your own self-care practices. By prioritizing one’s well-being, we not only strengthen ourselves but also contribute to the resilience and long-term effectiveness of the collective movement for justice and healing.
