“Wanna cry this out real quick?”: an examination of secondary traumatic stress risk and resilience among post-overdose outreach staff in Massachusetts
Abstract Background Post-overdose outreach programs engage overdose survivors and their families soon after an overdose event. Staff implementing these programs are routinely exposed to others’ trauma, which makes them vulnerable to secondary traumatic stress (STS) and compassion fatigue. The purpos...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Harm Reduction Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-00975-2 |
| _version_ | 1797247437289553920 |
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| author | Samantha F. Schoenberger Emily R. Cummins Jennifer J. Carroll Shapei Yan Audrey Lambert Sarah M. Bagley Ziming Xuan Traci C. Green Franklin Cook Amy M. Yule Alexander Y. Walley Scott W. Formica |
| author_facet | Samantha F. Schoenberger Emily R. Cummins Jennifer J. Carroll Shapei Yan Audrey Lambert Sarah M. Bagley Ziming Xuan Traci C. Green Franklin Cook Amy M. Yule Alexander Y. Walley Scott W. Formica |
| author_sort | Samantha F. Schoenberger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Post-overdose outreach programs engage overdose survivors and their families soon after an overdose event. Staff implementing these programs are routinely exposed to others’ trauma, which makes them vulnerable to secondary traumatic stress (STS) and compassion fatigue. The purpose of this study was to explore experiences of STS and associated upstream and downstream risk and protective factors among program staff. Methods We conducted a post-hoc analysis of semi-structured interviews with post-overdose outreach program staff in Massachusetts. Transcripts were analyzed using a multi-step hybrid inductive-deductive approach to explore approaches and responses to outreach work, factors that might give rise to STS, and compassion fatigue resilience. Findings were organized according to the three main constructs within Ludick and Figley’s compassion fatigue resilience model (empathy, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue resilience). Results Thirty-eight interviews were conducted with staff from 11 post-overdose outreach programs in Massachusetts. Within the empathy construct, concern for others’ well-being emerged as a motivator to engage in post-overdose outreach work – with staff trying to understand others’ perspectives and using this connection to deliver respectful and compassionate services. Within the secondary traumatic stress construct, interviewees described regular and repeated exposure to others’ trauma – made more difficult when exposures overlapped with staff members’ personal social spheres. Within the compassion fatigue resilience construct, interviewees described the presence and absence of self-care practices and routines, social supports, and workplace supports. Job satisfaction and emotional detachment from work experiences also arose as potential protective factors. Interviewees reported inconsistent presence and utilization of formal support for STS and compassion fatigue within their post-overdose outreach teams. Conclusion Post-overdose outreach program staff may experience secondary traumatic stress and may develop compassion fatigue, particularly in the absence of resilience and coping strategies and support. Compassion fatigue resilience approaches for post-overdose outreach staff warrant further development and study. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T19:58:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eab79cd341bb4c399809513c7a9fcbb4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1477-7517 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T19:58:41Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Harm Reduction Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-eab79cd341bb4c399809513c7a9fcbb42024-03-24T12:14:32ZengBMCHarm Reduction Journal1477-75172024-03-0121111410.1186/s12954-024-00975-2“Wanna cry this out real quick?”: an examination of secondary traumatic stress risk and resilience among post-overdose outreach staff in MassachusettsSamantha F. Schoenberger0Emily R. Cummins1Jennifer J. Carroll2Shapei Yan3Audrey Lambert4Sarah M. Bagley5Ziming Xuan6Traci C. Green7Franklin Cook8Amy M. Yule9Alexander Y. Walley10Scott W. Formica11Boston Medical Center, Grayken Center for Addiction, Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit, Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of MedicineBoston Medical Center, Grayken Center for Addiction, Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit, Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of MedicineDepartment of Sociology & Anthropology, North Carolina State UniversityBoston Medical Center, Grayken Center for Addiction, Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit, Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of MedicineAccess, Harm Reduction, Overdose Prevention and Education (AHOPE), Boston Public Health CommissionBoston Medical Center, Grayken Center for Addiction, Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit, Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of MedicineDepartment of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public HealthThe Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis UniversityPeer Support Community PartnersDepartment of Psychiatry, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of MedicineBoston Medical Center, Grayken Center for Addiction, Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit, Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of MedicineSocial Science Research and Evaluation, IncAbstract Background Post-overdose outreach programs engage overdose survivors and their families soon after an overdose event. Staff implementing these programs are routinely exposed to others’ trauma, which makes them vulnerable to secondary traumatic stress (STS) and compassion fatigue. The purpose of this study was to explore experiences of STS and associated upstream and downstream risk and protective factors among program staff. Methods We conducted a post-hoc analysis of semi-structured interviews with post-overdose outreach program staff in Massachusetts. Transcripts were analyzed using a multi-step hybrid inductive-deductive approach to explore approaches and responses to outreach work, factors that might give rise to STS, and compassion fatigue resilience. Findings were organized according to the three main constructs within Ludick and Figley’s compassion fatigue resilience model (empathy, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue resilience). Results Thirty-eight interviews were conducted with staff from 11 post-overdose outreach programs in Massachusetts. Within the empathy construct, concern for others’ well-being emerged as a motivator to engage in post-overdose outreach work – with staff trying to understand others’ perspectives and using this connection to deliver respectful and compassionate services. Within the secondary traumatic stress construct, interviewees described regular and repeated exposure to others’ trauma – made more difficult when exposures overlapped with staff members’ personal social spheres. Within the compassion fatigue resilience construct, interviewees described the presence and absence of self-care practices and routines, social supports, and workplace supports. Job satisfaction and emotional detachment from work experiences also arose as potential protective factors. Interviewees reported inconsistent presence and utilization of formal support for STS and compassion fatigue within their post-overdose outreach teams. Conclusion Post-overdose outreach program staff may experience secondary traumatic stress and may develop compassion fatigue, particularly in the absence of resilience and coping strategies and support. Compassion fatigue resilience approaches for post-overdose outreach staff warrant further development and study.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-00975-2Post-overdose outreachOverdosePublic healthOccupational stressCompassion fatigue |
| spellingShingle | Samantha F. Schoenberger Emily R. Cummins Jennifer J. Carroll Shapei Yan Audrey Lambert Sarah M. Bagley Ziming Xuan Traci C. Green Franklin Cook Amy M. Yule Alexander Y. Walley Scott W. Formica “Wanna cry this out real quick?”: an examination of secondary traumatic stress risk and resilience among post-overdose outreach staff in Massachusetts Harm Reduction Journal Post-overdose outreach Overdose Public health Occupational stress Compassion fatigue |
| title | “Wanna cry this out real quick?”: an examination of secondary traumatic stress risk and resilience among post-overdose outreach staff in Massachusetts |
| title_full | “Wanna cry this out real quick?”: an examination of secondary traumatic stress risk and resilience among post-overdose outreach staff in Massachusetts |
| title_fullStr | “Wanna cry this out real quick?”: an examination of secondary traumatic stress risk and resilience among post-overdose outreach staff in Massachusetts |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Wanna cry this out real quick?”: an examination of secondary traumatic stress risk and resilience among post-overdose outreach staff in Massachusetts |
| title_short | “Wanna cry this out real quick?”: an examination of secondary traumatic stress risk and resilience among post-overdose outreach staff in Massachusetts |
| title_sort | wanna cry this out real quick an examination of secondary traumatic stress risk and resilience among post overdose outreach staff in massachusetts |
| topic | Post-overdose outreach Overdose Public health Occupational stress Compassion fatigue |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-00975-2 |
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