Poster #30

Vicarious Trauma in Mental Health Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By: Daisy Andrade Channell, B.A.

Abstract:

Vicarious trauma (VT) is an occupational hazard that many mental health professionals experience. Previous research has shown that repeated professional exposure to patients’ trauma and suffering is considered a risk factor for mental health professionals that could lead to symptoms of burnout, compassion fatigue, and others most commonly seen in individuals diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression (Velaszco et al., 2022; Northwood et al., 2021). Most research on vicarious trauma currently focuses on mental health professionals' repeated exposure to trauma narratives from human trafficking survivors, domestic violence survivors, and other victims of abuse (Collins-Frazie, 2020). However, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a widely traumatic experience resulting in an influx of individuals in need of mental health services. The relationship between vicarious trauma, COVID-19, and how it has affected mental health professionals has not been thoroughly researched. This presentation will examine how exposure to patients’ traumatic experiences throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of mental health counselors as they manage their own challenges. It will also contribute to current research on vicarious trauma and interventions that may be useful in reducing the risk of mental illness in mental health professionals when repeatedly exposed to trauma. In addition, it will include recommendations for assisting mental health professionals with this form of trauma. Further investigation of this topic is crucial in understanding the challenges that mental health professionals have faced during the pandemic in order to develop specific coping mechanisms and interventions to decrease the risk of vicarious trauma and professional disruption. Healthy and effective counselors can contribute toward healthier patients and communities.

daisy andrade channell

Daisy Andrade Channell is a PsyD doctoral candidate with a health emphasis at Alliant International University- Los Angeles. Her research interests include death and dying, grief, vicarious trauma, and burnout among healthcare workers. Much of her clinical experience has been in multidisciplinary settings working with nurses and doctors providing services to terminally ill patients.