Two Truths
Our guest today is Lisa Kelly, a good friend and colleague of mine with a gift for sharing deep truths in powerfully engaging and thought provoking ways. Prepare yourself for some serious introspection as Lisa shares the personal struggles and epiphanies that shaped her intense need to understand the different flavors of compassion fatigue experienced by laboratory animal professionals and other caregivers as they, selflessly, serve others.
Resources
Compassion Fatigue (general):
The American Association of Laboratory Animal Science - courses and literature available on Compassion Fatigue in the laboratory animal science field
https://www.aalas.org/education/educational-resources/cost-of-caring
The American Veterinary Medical Association - information and resources to address compassion fatigue and suicide prevention
https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/wellbeing/work-and-compassion-fatigue
ReKindleSolutions (Julie Squires) - offers training and emotional support through regular blogs and on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube
COPEPLUS: Compassion Fatigue Counseling for Laboratory Animal Professionals (Anneke Keizer) - offers needs assessments, compassion fatigue support program development, virtual guidance during crisis situations, and workshops specific to laboratory animal caregivers
Robert Kegan: suggested reading
In Over Our Heads: The Mental Demands of Modern Life
https://www.amazon.com/Over-Our-Heads-Mental-Demands/dp/0674445880
The Evolving Self: Problem and Process in Human Development
Perpetration-Induced Traumatic Stress (PITS):
Excerpts:
Research has suggested that people whose work requires them to kill animals suffer from occupational stress. Studies of shelter staff [1], veterinary professionals [2], and laboratory animal technicians [3] have consistently shown that these people experience a higher than usual rate number of physical and psychological symptoms of stress—including high blood pressure, depression, suicidal thoughts, and substance abuse—related to their job.
Rolfe and Benett: “Very little quantitative research has been conducted in this area. However, preliminary evidence suggests that people who look after animals and, as part of their occupation, are required to euthanize them should be regarded as an at-risk population for post-traumatic stress (PTS).”
This is an area in which further research is extremely important, in order to raise awareness that the work of humanely killing animals has significant mental health implications.
