Compassion Fatigue: Beyond Burnout
Most people are familiar with the concept of experiencing “burn out”: long hours, heavy workloads, and stress that can lead to loss of job satisfaction and decreased health status. But for people working in roles where they are providing care and empathy, the emotional and mental exhaustion of this responsibility can go beyond burnout and affect many aspects of their lives. Creating well-being programs and fostering a healthy culture for these populations requires a unique approach to address a condition known as “compassion fatigue.”
In this client advisory from our Clinical Wellness Specialty Practice, we offer guidance for employers looking to create well-being programs and foster a healthy culture for caregivers. This document provides an overview of signs and symptoms (including physical, mental, and emotional), and offers solutions to encourage awareness of compassion fatigue, improve the employee environment, and other considerations.
Katie O’Neill, DC, BS
Director of Clinical Wellness, Practice Leader
Katie.ONeill@McGriff.com