Conference News: Colt research    

Summary:

The Colt Foundation’s annual research day took place on 23 April 2024 in London. The event showcases new, ongoing and recently completed studies in occupational and environmental health, carried out by students and researchers funded by the charity. This article summarises four presentations on mental health and trauma.

Secondary traumatic stress

Victoria Hancock has conducted research at Birmingham City University into secondary traumatic stress (STS) in youth justice workers. She noted that the term STS has often been used interchangeably with other conditions – vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue and burnout – but is properly ‘defined in its own right’. It is an acute and symptom-based reaction, she says.

Hancock used the definition by Figley, who described STS as ‘the natural consequent behaviours and emotions resulting from knowing about a traumatising event experienced by another. It is the stress resulting from helping or wanting to help a traumatised or suffering person¹.’…

Information about the Colt Foundation charity and applying for a research grant is available at www.coltfoundation.org.uk

Author: Hancock V

Tags mental health trauma

Occupational Health at Work June/July 2024 (vol. 21/1) pp35-39

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