Activist Self-Care and Wellness
Resources – For MN and Beyond
Resources For Protesters and Activists
Activist Trauma and Recovery by Activist Trauma Support:
“One of the amazing things about activists is that we often deliberately expose ourselves to brutality when we believe it necessary. What is sometimes equally surprising is how little we know about the psychological effects of this violence. We need to prepare ourselves and learn how to support each other through the physical and emotional consequences of trauma.
People’s reactions to traumatic events vary enormously; some may become withdrawn, and others may be fearful or angry. The time it takes to recover from trauma also varies from hours or days to weeks, months, and sometimes years – though most people recover within a month. Post-traumatic stress can take many forms. Some may find themselves more scared of the police or of crowded situations; others may become angry while others feel paralyzed and vulnerable. You may feel changed as a person. Opening spaces to exchange experiences and communicate our emotions are important first steps to deal with experiences of violence.
Post-traumatic stress is a normal response to abnormal circumstances.”
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) And Activists – from Activist Trauma Support
- PTSD flyer A5 PDF 4 pages Our general flyer discussing PTSD and activism. https://www.activist-trauma.net/assets/files/ats_a5_flyer_dec16_rightway.pdf
- Police Infiltration Leaflet A4 PDF. Document considering the effects of police infiltration
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No Borders: Thoughts on guilt, shame & activist trauma
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Activist Trauma Zine Version 1 of the Activist Trauma Support zine, 36 A5 pages in PDF including Editorial, Avoiding Burnout at Climate Camp 2006, Total Eclipse, International Groups, Out of Action in German for G8, Report from Israeli T-Team, ATS Trauma Briefing, 2 Minute Relaxation, My Experiences Post Stirling, Callout for more articles. https://www.activist-trauma.net/assets/files/atszine1.pdf
- 14 No Cost Radical Self Care Tips
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Activist PTSD briefing
double-sided A3 PDF Backgrounds, symptoms, specific problems, available treatments, prevention, support.
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Sustainable Activism & Avoiding Burnout
A5 PDF https://www.activist-trauma.net/assets/files/burnout_new_flyer_rightway.pdf
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How to cope with being attacked by the cops
double-sided A4 PDF https://www.activist-trauma.net/assets/files/coping_with_police_brutality_new.pdf
Logistics of what to do after having been attacked: on the scene, at home, at the police station, in court.A simplified version less specific to UK law is available as ‘.doc’ file: english – french
For MN:
National Lawyers Guild-Twin Cities: 612.444.2654
If you are planning to participate in an action or protest, before you go write this number, 612.444.2654, in black sharpie on your arm. Call them if you are arrested.
“The National Lawyers Guild is a progressive public interest association of lawyers, law students, paralegals, jailhouse lawyers, law collective members, and other activist legal workers, in the United States…The National Lawyers Guild, whose membership includes lawyers, legal workers, jailhouse lawyers, and law students, was formed in 1937 as the United States’ first racially integrated bar association to advocate for the protection of constitutional, human, and civil rights.
Legal Rights Center: 612.337.0030 “Our mission is to work with our communities to seek justice and promote racial equity for those to whom it has been historically denied. We do this through criminal defense, restorative justice, advocacy, and community education.” Based in the Twin Cities.
Twin Cities Coalition for Justice for Jamar “The Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar(TCC4J) formed after the murder of Jamar Clark by the Minneapolis Police Department on the night of November 15, 2015. After the 4th Precinct Occupation, we recognized the need to continue gathering people around the fight against police crimes. We believe that this fight can and must unite the Black Lives Matter movement and everyday working people in the community. TCC4J meets weekly to plan community meetings, marches and rallies, press conferences, and actions, which unite our community and pressure city, county, and state officials to hold police accountable and end police violence in our communities.”
Racial Justice Network “The Racial Justice Network (RJN) is a multi-racial, grassroots organization based in Minnesota and led by Nekima Levy Armstrong, an award-winning attorney, civil rights activist, and former law professor. RJN is committed to fighting for racial justice and building bridges across racial, social, and economic lines.”
MN Freedom Fund “Since 2016, our mission has been to pay criminal bail and immigration bonds for those who cannot afford to, as we seek to end discriminatory, intimidating, and oppressive money bail.”
Activist Trauma flyer in other languages
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- Trauma support flyer in German, as a PDF – Flyer zu Trauma und Aktivismus: Einführung, Reaktionen, Hintergründe, was hilft?
- Trauma support flyer in French, as a PDF and as a TEXT file – Activisme et traumatisme.
- Trauma support flyer in Spanish, as a PDF and as a TEXT file – Trauma y recuperacion para activistas.
- Trauma support flyer in Russian, Page 1 and Page 2 – double sided A4 PDF
- Trauma support flyer in Hebrew – double sided A4 PDF
- Trauma support flyer in Arabic, as a PDF and as a TEXT file.
- Trauma support flyer in Dutch, as a PDF.
- Trauma Support flyer in Greek, as a PDF – Τραύμα και ανάκαμψη για ακτιβιστές
Handouts from a 6-day Training with ASSIST
ASSIST is a UK Charity dedicated to Trauma Care. All in RTF or PDF format.
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- Stress – Human function curve 1: RTF or PDF
- Stress – Human function curve 2: RTF or PDF
- Critical Incident Stress: RTF or PDF
- Critical Incident Stress – Short term reactions: RTF or PDF
- Trauma and Recovery: RTF or PDF
- Please listen to me: RTF or PDF
- PTSD Criteria – 1: RTF or PDF
- PTSD Criteria – 2: RTF or PDF
- Summary of Post Trauma Symptoms: RTF or PDF
- Why do some people get it and others don’t: RTF or PDF
- Secondary Traumatisation: RTF or PDF
- Intrusive Imagery and Thoughts: RTF or PDF
- Dealing with Flashbacks: RTF or PDF
- Treatments of Flashbacks: RTF or PDF
- Processing the Memories: RTF or PDF
- Developing Coping Skills: RTF or PDF
- Working with Avoidance: RTF or PDF
- Arousal and Hypervigilance: RTF or PDF
- Panic Attacks: RTF or PDF
- Treatment for Hypervigilance: RTF or PDF
- Specialist Interventional Therapies: RTF or PDF
- Evidence-based treatments: RTF or PDF
- Effective Treatments for PTSD: RTF or PDF
- Cognitive Restructuring: RTF or PDF
- Exposure Therapy: RTF or PDF
- NICE Guidelines – 1: RTF or PDF
- NICE Guidelines – 2: RTF or PDF
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Mental Health & Protesting: Colorado Protest Medics: PowerPoint – trauma-informed
CAT-911 Abolitionist Mental Health Rapid Response Training Curriculum
Below are links to videos, crowdsource documents used throughout the trainings, and powerpoints.
Day 1: Framework/Crisis Intervention/Suicide/Self-Harm.
Video: https://youtu.be/b__4iFDHnPI
Powerpoint: Framework/Crisis Intervention: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Zj4tG-RtOpJKoe-BakiuUv61AMLO_v8R/view?usp=sharing
Powerpoint: Suicide and Self-Harm
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14hIUENI46uBWsMvgkLku6LXC1quR9biJ/view?usp=sharing
Crowdsource Document: Strategies re: Self-Harm
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v7AGKfO9yYQ4KvzG9Eb44ZZVQwnkyZWUaJ97Grg1p2A/edit?usp=sharing
Day 2: De-Escalation/Manic Episodes/Alternate Realities
Video: https://youtu.be/WxyMCsaUYNI
Powerpoint: De-Escalation
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qDW7eyNgQB1lKYrAbwcQgAoxWWAFdBv1/view?usp=sharing
Powerpoint: Alternative Realities
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1zJBUOB46JNjC100UzsmMj3zBhMCstjBjK_5TFwnPyaM/edit?usp=sharing
Powerpoint: Manic Episodes
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uxAe82pZLn6__MbnFGC7x5q6jjC0O_lX/view?usp=sharing
Day 3: Overdose Prevention, If Cops Come
Video: https://youtu.be/PTLEPY1p02w
Powerpoint: Introduction
Https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nS2l6iI5nqz-vzoXSRrNje8F9835-1-v/view?usp=sharing
Powerpoint: Overdose Prevention/Narcan
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1herd0EsyyLm8vlR1u6EO1hp_QNzKN8wL/view?usp=sharing
Powerpoint: If Cops Arrive
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TSFeg8Ybfy9NSgQwBWQT22D6vnXWm57O/view?usp=sharing
Handout: If Cops Come: Risk Assessment
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-qJViTOsQhTqWGxtNHXXhnugWBNzDxjq/view?usp=sharing
Day 4: Anxiety/PTSD/Flashbacks, Self-Care, Self-Defense
Video: https://youtu.be/-dEHNzPpOCs
Powerpoint: Anxiety/PTSD/Flashbacks
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P1QHlhNxUDHTVwNXD50a1AOdHQPKaq5G/view?usp=sharing
Powerpoint: Self/Collective Care
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11x6Ak000rEuO88e_3AFIkwUrf4QYlw2M/view?usp=sharing
Powerpoint: Self-Defense
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IQ_y6HCQX1TFKqfJmkNT7A3gqhKvvZrd/view?usp=sharing
Crowdsource Document: Anxiety/PTSD/Flashbacks
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aaWpNVtPjoWmV2ZzkxzyMsgfsBo1Hy2agd5UsvQCvDY/edit?usp=sharing
Crowdsource Document: Self/Collective Care Strategies
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1heUj4q4GQe_RnvETC4CL6bE9kP–otG_nU8At3mbWs4/edit?usp=sharing
Overall Crowdsource Document on Questions/Issues/Answers related to rapid response
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E4Y3ipT0PQak1Nx7g–g7LqOkdYutepffH_dBgWO9AY/edit?usp=sharing
Pre- and Post-Action Resources and Info for Protesters: Some are MN Based
MN Resources for the Uprising and Community
14 self-care reminders list (PDF) – Keep the Revolution Healthy
Twin Cities Mental Health Support
Care for Acute Trauma from Protesting
Self-Care and Wellness Resources
Paramilitaries at Your Protest: An Activist Field Guide to the Far Right
Protesting During the Pandemic? 6 Safety Questions Answered
Public health experts say the pandemic is exactly why protests must continue: Racism is a Public Health Issue
Care for Acute Trauma from Protesting
Mental Health Care and Self-Care Pre and Post Political Actions & Protests, i.e., rubber bullets, tear gas, police brutality trauma, self-care by Irene Greene
Report Minneapolis Police Department Police Brutality to the MN Department of Human Rights
An easy tool for anonymizing photographs taken at protests. Use the tool here.
Uprising Community Organizations: MN-based
Black Visions Collective https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/
MN Freedom Fund (bail fund for protestors) https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/
Reclaim the Block https://www.reclaimtheblock.org/home
MPD150 https://www.mpd150.com/
CTUL https://ctul.net/
Communities United Against Police Brutality https://www.cuapb.org/
MN ACLU https://www.aclu-mn.org/en
South Minneapolis Mutual Aid Autonomous Zone Coordination
Report Minneapolis Police Department Police Brutality to the MN Department of Human Rights
General Stuff
American Protest: Images From the Past 24 Hours The Atlantic 6.3.20
Things You Can Do Right Now to Support Protesters by Jeff at TherapyDen
Protesting During the Pandemic? 6 Safety Questions Answered
Public health experts say the pandemic is exactly why protests must continue: Racism is a Public Health Issue
An easy tool for anonymizing photographs taken at protests. Use the tool here.
Mental Health Resources for BIPOC and non-BIPOC
Twin Cities Mental Health Support
Mental Health and Energy Healing for BIPOC
Red Cross Disaster Health and Mental Health Volunteers
National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network Mental Health Fund
Therapy for Black Women and Girls and Therapy Fund for Black Women and Girls
Supporting Black LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health The Trevor Project
Radical Self-Care Sun Burst
Learn more about Irene’s services related to oppression and trauma-informed individual, group, and non-profit organizational support and coaching, psychological first-aid training, and anti-racism/whiteness coaching and workshops for white people. Contact Irene
