Compassion Fatigue: Penn State Researchers and Animal Care Staff
Compassion fatigue (CF) is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion that can occur in individuals who dedicate their careers to caring for others. While compassion is a vital trait for those in helping professions, such work can take a toll on even the most dedicated individuals.
At Penn State, we recognize the unique challenges faced by our researchers, veterinarians, animal care staff, and others involved in animal care and research. Repeated exposure to animal illness, injury, euthanasia, or ethical dilemmas can lead to compassion fatigue, impacting both personal well-being and professional effectiveness.
This website aims to increase awareness of compassion fatigue, its signs and symptoms, and to provide resources to help Penn State researchers identify and address this often-hidden risk. We provide information on internal and external resources, as well as a self-assessment tool.
- SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program for counseling and other services (for full-time, benefits eligible eomployees)
- Free individual wellness services from a trained peer health educator (students only)
- CAPS Chat: free informal drop-in consultation (students only)
- Wellness events through the year (open to students and employees)
- Wellness assessment and self-paced programs through the WellTrack App (Penn State Account required)
- Manage Stress Workbook (free PDF download)
- Compassion Fatigue on-demand webinar from SupportLinc (Penn State employee ID required)
- The North American 3Rs Collaborative: Review the causes and symptoms of compassion fatigue and discover resources for individuals and institutions to promote well-being and resilience. This website also includes self-care tips, strategies for handling difficult emotions, and a list of publications on compassion fatigue in the research animal field.
- Compassion Fatigue: A Hidden Danger to Veterinary Professionals: This article discusses compassion fatigue in the veterinary field, highlighting its prevalence and the serious consequences it can have on mental health. It emphasizes the importance of raising awareness about this issue to encourage early intervention and support for veterinary professionals.
- University of Washington Dare to Care (D2C): This University of Washington website links to posts, news and updates, podcasts, and other resources on topics such as Compassion in Science and Compassion Fatigue.
- To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior. Jennifer Blough, LLPC
- Compassion Fatigue in the Animal-Care Community. Charles R. Figley, Robert G. Roop
Contact Information:
For further support or questions, contact the IACUC Program.