What is it about?
Our team conducted a study with over 900 victim service providers (VSPs) in Canada and found that those who report being happy also report high levels of engaging in self-care practices. We also found that vicarious resilience is strongly correlated with happiness. At the same time, many VSPs face barriers in engaging in self-care; these are often related to the burden of self-care being placed on individuals with a heavy workload without effective workplace support.
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Why is it important?
These findings demonstrate the importance of self-care for professionals who work with people who have experienced trauma, and highlight the role that organizations must play in ensuring employees receive adequate time and support for self-care.
Perspectives
I'm grateful to the many VSPs in Canada who took the time to participate in this study; it's my hope that our findings validate their experiences and promote changes within the field so that current and future VSPs can continue their important work while enhancing their own well-being.
Diana McGlinchey
Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Self-care and vicarious resilience in victim advocates: A national study., Traumatology An International Journal, September 2023, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/trm0000481.
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