Compassion Fatigue and Burnout

Episode 5

This week on Oregon Grow, Mental Health Therapist Talia Akre (Multnomah Education Service District) talks about the compassion fatigue many educators experience. Talia explains the difference between compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout. Compassion fatigue is particularly labeled for the helping fields, which includes educators. Many educators of all kinds are dealing with student trauma and mental health issues. Current staffing shortages are additionally compounding the stressors educators are experiencing. Compassion fatigue can even affect an entire school community and can also exist in our personal lives when we’re taking care of others. Talia and Jesse discuss the importance of taking care of ourselves first and letting students see we’re whole people, for example, by taking breaks or having a classroom mindful minute. 

 

Learn more about compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma and how to regain balance: 

Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky and Connie Burk 

Compassion Fatigue TEDx talk by Dr. Jacquelyn Ollison

Master Teachers are Mindful Teachers by The Teaching Professor/Faculty Focus author Dr. Kristen Rousch

The Mindful Self Compassion Workbook by Kristin Neff

Ambiguous Loss by Pauline Boss