This week’s “Safety & Security” corner features information about last week’s homicide in Mission Hill and support for staff, including BWH’s Violence Recovery Program. As always, staff should report safety concerns by telling a manager, calling Security at 617-732-6565 or emailing non-urgent questions to BWHSafety@partners.org.

There was a homicide in Mission Hill last week near an area where many BWH employees and patients work, dine and shop. On the afternoon of the incident, leadership, HR managers and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) staff rounded on the floors at One Brigham Circle (OBC) and spoke with many employees; EAP also visited the Shapiro Center that afternoon and talked with staff, and returned with hospital leadership to OBC the following day.

Violence affects everyone in very different and profound ways, even if we are not directly injured by the violence. Chronic exposure to violence or the threat of violence can impact long-term health and well-being. In 2011, in an effort to provide a response to the violence in our community, BWH started the Violence Recovery Program, which offers supportive services to patients, family members and employees who experience trauma as a result of exposure to community violence.

If you are experiencing any impact from this incident, or from any other form of interpersonal violence, help and resources are available. EAP provides expertise in issues specific to the workplace, and can serve as a liaison between work and community resources. Also, October is Interpersonal Violence Awareness Month, during which there will be many opportunities for education and discussion around community, domestic and sexual violence. For more information, please contact Mardi Chadwick at mchadwick1@partners.org, or call EAP at 617-732-6017.