The world of forensic scienceand death investigationis always unpredictable and demanding. Large caseloads, hazardous materials, traumatic evidence, and other complexities related to the job can have a direct effect on staff. Individuals working in this field are continually faced with an incredible amount of grief, sadness, pressure, and stress. This webinar will present a comprehensive literature review as well as the preliminary results from a cross-discipline, cross-sectional study examining the prevalence of vicarious trauma and burnout from more than 500 forensic practitioner respondents. Additionally, the need for stress and trauma awareness training and a structured peer support system will be discussed as a valuable endeavor for any organization whose employees are faced with sensitive, challenging, and traumatic events or information every day.
Detailed Learning Objectives
- Attendees will understand the differences between vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue.
- Attendees will learn to recognize the signs and understand the impact of stress, trauma, and burnout.
- Attendees will hear about tools to support employee wellness.
Vicarious Trauma, Compassion Fatigue and Burnout: Recognition, Realizations and the Need for Peer Support and Personal Wellness
Thefieldof forensic science and death investigation is unpredictable, volatile, and demanding.Increased caseloads,hazardousevidence,increased analysis times and deadlines, andfamily interactionshave a direct effect on the staff.Individuals working in this field are continually faced with an incredible amount of grief, sadness,pressure,and stress.Individuals may have trouble coping with the stressexperiencedinthisprofessionand vicarious trauma resulting from exposure todistressingreportsand casesisnot uncommon.Having to evaluate the best and most probative evidence for analysis by exposure to the intimate details of each case is a routine occurrence and over time has an adverse impact on the mental fitness of those responsible for the task.Routine exposure totrauma,whether direct orindirect,takes a toll on the lives of those involved.Recognizing the need for awareness training and a structured peer support system is a valuable endeavor for any organization whose employeesfacesensitive,challenging,and traumatic events or informationon a daily basis.Employee involvement in structured training and continuing educationhelpssupportthose who maystruggle with or wantassistancemanagingthe stressors in this field.
Stress and Trauma in Forensic Scientists: Review of the Literature and Trends from a Cross-sectional Study
Studies have been performed on the prevalence of secondary traumatic stress (STS), vicarioustrauma (VT), and burnout in psychologists, first responders, and police officers, but there are limited studies examining the prevalence of these stressorsexperienced by forensic scientists. Anecdotally, the field understands that forensic scientists are under immense pressure to ensure turnaround times are met and evidence is handled with unbiased integrity, all while trying tomaintaina healthy work-life balance. However, the pressures of the job may beimpactingpractitioners in more ways than imagined.In thiswebinar, a review of literature will be presented and preliminary results from a cross-discipline cross-sectional study on more than 500 forensic practitionersexaminingthe prevalence of vicarious trauma and burnout will be discussed. Forensic practitioners’perceptionof their ability to perform their job duties will also be presentedalong withrecommendations for future studies to better support this important criminal justice stakeholder.
