During a Response: Understand and Identify Burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress

Responders experience stress during a crisis. When stress builds up it can cause:

• Burnout: feelings of extreme exhaustion and being overwhelmed.
• Secondary traumatic stress: stress reactions and symptoms resulting from exposure to another individual’s traumatic experiences, rather than from exposure directly to a traumatic event.

Limit your time working alone by trying to work in teams.

Responder Self-Care Techniques

• Try to limit working hours to no longer than 12-hour shifts.
• Work in teams and limit amount of time working alone.
• Write in a journal.
• Talk to family, friends, supervisors, and teammates about your feelings and experiences.
• Practice breathing and relaxation techniques.
• Maintain a healthy diet and get adequate sleep and exercise.
• Know that it is okay to draw boundaries and say “no.”
• Avoid or limit caffeine and use of alcohol or drugs.

It is Important to Remind Yourself…

• It is not selfish to take breaks.
• The needs of survivors are not more important than your own needs and well-being.
• Working all of the time does not mean you will make your best contribution.
• There are other people who can help in the response.

Responders will experience stress. Managing stress and taking breaks will make you a better responder.

Resources Available to You

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Disaster Technical Assistance Center (SAMHSA DTAC)
Toll-Free: 1-800-308-3515
Website: http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac

SAMHSA Behavioral Health Disaster Response Mobile App
Website: http://store.samhsa.gov/product/PEP13-DKAPP-1

Administration for Children and Families
Website: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Mental Health
Website: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/mentalhealth

Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) PTSD Information
Voicemail: 1-802-296-6300
Website: http://www.ptsd.va.gov

Marquetta Smith, Executive Director of Safe Harbor International Ministries

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