Secondary Trauma Stress in Indian Country

This newsletter from the National Indian Child Welfare Association describes the secondary traumatic stress that may occur among providers who work with AI/AN youth and adults. Also known as vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, or burnout, secondary traumatic stress is the emotional duress that comes from hearing another person’s traumatic experiences firsthand. Left unchecked, this secondary trauma can lead to burnout and turnover among social workers. To combat secondary trauma, the authors suggest a strategy of relationship-based prevention. Building trust and safety among coworkers and allowing staff members to practice self-care will help prevent secondary trauma symptoms from escalating to burnout. The newsletter also provides self-care tips and resources for social services professionals who are concerned about secondary traumatic stress.