By Heather C. Forkey, MD, Elaine Schulte, MD, MPH, and Luanne Thorndyke, MD
Secondary traumatic stress (STS) is the emotional duress caused by indirect exposure to distressing events experienced by others. Health care providers and caregivers are particularly susceptible to secondary stress due to regular exposure to difficult and painful clinical situations that evoke intrinsic empathy necessary to provide effective care. Understanding STS as a normal stress response not only helps to make sense of the symptoms but also suggests a way forward. Opportunities for those in health care to address STS can be found among our colleagues and in our own settings and may provide a meaningful source of support if accessed effectively.
Share This Post!
What is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
By The National Institute of Mental Health Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. It is natural [...]
InBrief: Early Childhood Mental Health
Published by The Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University The science of child development shows that the foundation for sound mental health is built early in life, as early experiences—which include [...]
At the Intersection of Autism and Trauma
By Lauren Gravitz Having autism can sometimes mean enduring a litany of traumatic events, starting from a young age. “We know that about 70 percent of kids with autism will have [...]
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Autistic People
By Dr Freya Rumball The risk of PTSD is higher for groups who are more likely to be exposed to traumatic events. Research indicates that autistic people may be more likely [...]
Afraid to sleep indoors: Child survivors of deadly quake left traumatized
By Zeena Saifi, Dalya Al Masri and Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN For victims in Syria, the earthquake is another crisis amid a devastating 12-year civil war. Children and families who were recovering from PTSD and ongoing trauma from [...]
How to Cope with Vicarious Trauma Caused by Videos of Police Brutality
By Jade Hindmon, NPR Many of us spent recent days thinking about the life of a man we never met. And yet, particularly for Black people, know very well. Tyre Nichols [...]