In the wake of the Black Sabbath massacre, more than 30% of the Jewish population was estimated to have experienced post-traumatic symptoms in the first few months. This trauma affected not only those who directly witnessed the events and were evacuated from settlements but also those who were indirectly exposed to them. Caregivers in the first circle of treating trauma victims also suffered as a result, experiencing stress, burnout, and emotional exhaustion.
To address this issue, a document has been developed that recommends strategies for caregivers to develop their personal coping abilities. These include being aware of their attitudes and feelings towards patients, balancing emotional detachment and empathy, and creating safe and healthy spaces within organizations. Additionally, guidelines are needed to manage occupational safety and health to identify psychosocial risk factors for professionals who are part of affected communities.
Professor Nadav Davidovich emphasizes the importance of addressing secondary trauma experienced by care teams who are among the affected communities. These professionals face a double exposure, caring for victims of disasters while dealing with personal losses and challenges themselves. Organizations must prioritize the mental health and well-being of their employees, especially during difficult times when systems are under strain.
To prevent burnout and ensure effective care provision, it is crucial to support and protect caregivers. The focus should be on creating a supportive environment that allows caregivers to balance professionalism with empathy and emotional detachment. By addressing secondary trauma experienced by care teams, organizations can better support their employees and prevent long-term negative impacts on their well-being.
In conclusion, it is essential for organizations to prioritize the mental health and well-being of their employees during challenging times when systems are under strain. To do this effectively, they must develop strategies to manage occupational safety and health risk factors for affected professionals while providing support for caregivers through safe spaces within organizations. By doing so, they can prevent burnout and ensure effective care provision while promoting long-term positive impacts on employee well-being.