Workplace Trauma & Suicide Prevention in Social Work | Dr. Ramirez

Workplace trauma & suicide prevention in social work take center stage in this episode of The Critical Social Worker: A Revolutionary Storytelling Podcast, hosted by Professor Ace and brought to you by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Department of Social Work.Episode 73 features Dr. Heliana Ramirez, PhD, LISW, a clinician, researcher, and organizer whose work focuses on workplace abuse, trauma, post-traumatic growth, anti-racist and LGBTQ+ affirming practice, somatic trauma therapy, and culturally grounded suicide prevention.If you care about social work, connection, trauma, workplace abuse, practicum power dynamics, cultural considerations in suicide prevention, healing, community support, and the possibilities of a gift economy, this conversation is for you.🔔 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@RevolutionarySocialWork/sub_confirmation=1📧 Contact: [email protected] Shakur Autobiography: https://files.libcom.org/files/assataauto.pdfHeliana’s Resources🔗 Latinx Suicide Prevention: Keeping Each Other Safer in Communityhttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1m_oz34mscSS7K7sFv2B_YgHncAdPGHaX/view?usp=sharing🔗 Workplace Trauma Recoveryhttps://www.workplacetraumarecovery.com/Episode SummaryProfessor Ace and Dr. Heliana Ramirez examine how workplace trauma, racism, anti-LGBTQ bias, sexism, classism, stigma, and institutional betrayal become embedded in workers’ bodies and lives. They discuss cortisol and chronic stress, toxic workplace dynamics, and the ways practicum students are often placed at the bottom of power hierarchies with little protection.The episode moves from workplace abuse to suicide prevention, exploring ambivalence, crisis care, cultural context, somatic approaches, and community support. They also reflect on how a gift economy and revolutionary social work can shift practice away from extraction and toward connection, reciprocity, and collective healing.At its core, this conversation insists that social work is about listening, relationship, and (re)connection – and that healing ourselves is part of the ethical work of helping others heal.Key Themes ⭐ social work, connection, trauma, healing⭐ workplace abuse, workplace trauma, toxic workplace dynamics⭐ suicide prevention, ambivalence, crisis intervention⭐ cultural considerations, Latinx suicide prevention, LGBTQ-affirming care⭐ practicum, field education, power imbalances⭐ institutional betrayal, racism, anti-LGBTQ bias⭐ cortisol, chronic stress, somatic trauma therapy, nervous system regulation⭐ community support, peer support, collective careChapters 00:00 Opening01:30 Introduction and Context Setting03:53 The Importance of Connection in Social Work06:39 Honoring Assata Shakur’s Legacy11:51 Understanding Workplace Abuse and Trauma17:22 Coping with Chronic Stress and Cortisol Levels22:40 The Role of Practicum Students in Social Work28:08 Navigating Power Dynamics in Social Work30:10 Understanding the Dark Triad and Workplace Dynamics34:15 Navigating Practicum Challenges and Warning Signs37:50 Institutional Betrayal and Advocacy in Higher Education41:47 Creating Supportive Environments for Practicum Students47:09 The Importance of Listening and Healing in Social Work54:15 Regulating Our Nervous Systems in Crisis Situations01:01:34 Navigating Suicidal Ideation and Crisis Care01:04:50 Direct Communication in Crisis Situations01:06:55 Understanding Ambivalence in Suicidal Thoughts01:08:44 The Role of Environment in Crisis Prevention01:12:12 Cultural Sensitivity in Suicide Prevention01:14:33 Community Resources and Support Systems01:23:29 Creating Accessible Suicide Prevention Resources#SocialWork #WorkplaceTrauma #WorkplaceAbuse #SuicidePrevention #Trauma #LatinxMentalHealth #CulturalConsiderations #Practicum #FieldEducation #InstitutionalBetrayal #LGBTQAffirmingCare #CommunitySupport #GiftEconomy #RevolutionarySocialWork #MentalHealthPodcast© UAF Social Work