Research: Peer Support Saves Lives.
Compassion fatigue (CF) secondary traumatic (STS), empathic fatigue, moral injury, and vicarious trauma (VT) are shared team and human experiences. Cited as an occupational risk in the helping and protecting professions, data shows that it’s not a matter of “if” we will be impacted, but “when and how much.”
Despite the great impact on professionals in healthcare, mental health, law enforcement, law, victim services, human services, and education, there are limited opportunities for helping and protecting professionals to learn about and discuss these factors openly as a team. We provide these services, workshops, training, peer support circles, and symptom reduction programs.
Engaging in discussion and reflection can be helpful in preventing, mitigating, and reducing the symptoms of job-related traumatic stress.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst published new data in 2020 studying the effects of peer support to reduce vicarious trauma in mental health providers. Alina Kendrick, Doctor of Nursing Practice found that their peer support led to participants feeling "less alone" and demonstrating increased interest in learning how to support each other. Participants also reported feeling more supported, being healthier, performing better, and having a greater likelihood of enjoying extended professional careers
When people have supportive peers around them, it can help regulate their nervous system and alleviate their symptoms. Working together as a team can cultivate trust, empathy, and concrete skills for managing various types of workplace stress, such as compassion fatigue (CF), secondary traumatic stress (STS) empathic fatigue, moral injury, and vicarious trauma (VT).
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