9781422275481

WHAT’S BURNOUT?

are paid staff members of organizations created to assist crime victims. All victim advocates have specialized training to allow them to effectively serve crime victims, regardless of their academic training. A victim advocate can play many roles, including counseling those affected by crime in a one-on-one setting, operating a hotline for victims of violent crime (such as rape, abuse, or hate crimes), going to court with victims to provide emotional support, providing them with resources to help them recover, assisting them with safety planning if they feel threatened, running support groups for those in similar circumstances, and talking with victims about different options that are available in their specific situation and location. Contrary to popular belief, victim advocates do not tell people what to do or how to feel. They do not coach them to press charges if the victim does not feel comfortable doing so. They simply help people navigate the emotional minefield that tends to come with facing an offender of a life- not working outside of paid work hours (in other words, not taking work home), seeking counseling for particularly difficult work situations, and speaking with a supervisor if the workload begins to feel too overwhelming. Burnout is a concern for victim advocates, both those who volunteer and those who are paid. The term refers to a mental collapse due to ongoing job, volunteer, or home life stress. Burnout can make it impossible for a victim advocate to do their job effectively. Sadly, this state is common in fields that ask workers and volunteers to invest emotionally in their work. It is hard to come to work day after day and deal with emotionally taxing situations. Teachers, advocates, law enforcement officers, nurses, and other people who work to help society all have high levels of workplace exhaustion in their fields. A breakdown can be avoided by taking scheduled days off,

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