Compassion Fatigue
- Manifests among staff due to prolonged exposure to others’ suffering.
- Arises from continuous empathetic engagement with individuals experiencing trauma or distress.
- Severely impacts ability to provide effective care.
Frontline Worker Hub
Though the work we do is tremendously meaningful, we recognize that it can also be extremely difficult and taxing. We often talk about client well-being, with a focus on how we can best support the populations we serve. However, it is equally important to discuss frontline worker well-being. We recognize the pain and distress that frontline workers often experience and want to remind you that it is okay to seek out support. The following are resources to support your journey in working within the field of harm reduction.
Helpful Organizations
The following organizations offer helpful mental health resources and support for frontline workers. Though not all are specific to frontline workers, these services might offer some relief from the difficulties we often face and the challenges we experience.
Soul Space Ottawa
Soul Space is a community collective that aims to provide spiritual care for workers involved in street health, harm reduction, community services, and social services in Ottawa. They offer many resources, including retreats, workshops, and cafes.Walk-In Counselling Clinic
Walk-in counselling is available in Ottawa and surrounding areas free of cost at various locations and times.AccessMHA
AccessMHA simplifies the process of finding mental health, substance use, and addiction care by connecting you with a trained professional who will help you navigate the support you need.Frontline Wellness
Frontline Wellness is a free, low-barrier program that offers confidential support from trained mental health professionals to Ontario residents who work in many fields, including community health care settings.Counselling Connect
Counselling Connect offers free short-term individual counselling and support groups for people of all ages in Ottawa and the surrounding region.Pay What You Can Peer Support
Pay What You Can Peer Support is a non-profit organization committed to providing accessible mental health support for everyone. They offer online peer support groups on a wide range of topics, all from the comfort of your home.Understanding and Navigating Vicarious Trauma
Secondary exposures to trauma can significantly impact the well-being of staff and the quality of care they offer. Vicarious trauma can result in:
Burnout
- Not necessarily specific to working with trauma survivors and in traumatic environments.
- Results from prolonged exposure to high levels of occupation stress (e.g. staffing issues, safety concerns, workplace conflict).
- Can lead to decreased workplace morale, diminished performance,
and increased absenteeism.
Both terms are often used interchangeably to describe reduced staff wellness. As well, these conditions can co-exist and overlap, further complicating the experiences of care providers.
There are some good self assessment tools that you can use to identify whether you are struggling with burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma:
Helpful Vicarious Trauma Resources
The following are some helpful resources on vicarious trauma. Additionally, Vikki Reynolds is a phenomenal individual who offers tremendously helpful workshops, training, research and tools for frontline workers. Her website is another great resource.
- Drowning in Empathy: The Cost of Vicarious Trauma | Amy Cunningham | TEDxSanAntonio
- City of Toronto Vicarious Trauma Toolkit
- Compassion Fatigue, Burnout and Vicarious Trauma
- Alternative ways to look at Vicarious Trauma & Worker Burnout: The Zone of Fabulousness
- Debriefing with Connection & Collective Care
- Responding to Death & Darkness