As a leading nonprofit behavioral health and crisis response organization serving Maryland and North Carolina, Santé reaffirmed our commitment to staff well-being at this year’s Annual All-Staff Day. The event was designed to honor, support, and care for the employees who spend their days caring for others.
The work of crisis response and behavioral health is meaningful, but it carries a unique emotional weight. Day after day, Santé staff steps into moments of fear, uncertainty, and vulnerability so individuals and families don’t have to face crisis alone. This year’s All-Staff Day was built around a clear message: the people doing this work deserve the same level of care, grounding, and compassion that they offer the community.
Vernessa Scurry, Santé’s Chief of Staff and lead organizer for the event, explained the intention behind every detail. “Each year, I make sure to curate an offering of vendors and activities that engage multiple facets of wellness, in hopes of addressing as many wants and needs as possible. The offerings typically include relaxation, engaging physical activity, self-led calming, and group games. ”
One of the popular offerings was the dedicated Calm Room. “I do a calm room every year because it can be overwhelming,” Scurry said. “There’s a lot happening. It’s a lot of people, and some can get overstimulated. So we need something that’s de-escalating.”
Inside the Calm Room, staff found adult coloring books, Play-Doh, soft music, and even a hands-on tutorial where a committee member taught participants how to make whimsical glasses out of pipe cleaners. The space offered a quiet reset for anyone who needed it and a reminder that it’s okay to pause.
Santé expanded its wellness offerings this year by bringing in on-site professional massage therapists. These sessions gave employees the chance to physically unwind, release tension, and experience a level of care rarely accessible during their busy schedules. For many attendees, it was a meaningful expression of gratitude and an acknowledgment of the emotional and physical strain of their essential work.
Scurry emphasized that the purpose of these sessions goes beyond a single event. “Our staff give so much of themselves,” she said. “We want them to feel supported, grounded, and cared for. Wellness isn’t an add-on here. It’s something we build intentionally.”
Santé’s leadership has remained vocal about prioritizing the well-being of its workforce. With crisis lines open 24/7, mobile teams in the field, outpatient clinicians supporting long-term care, and peer specialists guiding recovery programs, Santé employees carry responsibilities that demand resilience—and compassion for themselves.
All-Staff Day is a reminder that wellness isn’t a luxury. It is essential for sustaining a strong behavioral health workforce and delivering high-quality care to the communities that depend on Santé’s services.
The event reflects the organization’s broader philosophy: staff wellness strengthens community wellness. When employees feel supported, the care they provide becomes even more impactful. A regulated, grounded workforce makes for safer crisis responses, stronger therapeutic relationships, and healthier environments within every program.
By creating intentional spaces for restoration: movement, creativity, stillness, connection. Santé sends a clear message to its teams: your well-being matters here.
As Santé continues to expand services across Maryland and North Carolina, this commitment remains a central pillar of its mission. Staff wellness is not an occasional gesture, but an ongoing responsibility. One that ensures the people on the frontlines of behavioral health have the support they need to continue transforming lives.