The Cost of Compassion: A reflection on vicarious trauma among human rights defenders

By Shelby Ankrom For those who dedicate their lives to serving the world’s most vulnerable, human rights workers are increasingly becoming some of the most at-risk groups for developing mental health issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD). While these extraordinary people are busy helping others, who helps them? Who is ensuring their well-being and

The personal is the political: Activism and mental health

That the mental health challenges faced by activists may be tied more to the systemic issues which render activism necessary, rather than activism itself, has become better understood in recent years. Yet assigning a cause does not necessarily provide a solution.