As the nature and tempo of the crisis in Afghanistan shifts now that evacuation flights from Kabul have ended, it is crucial that those who have been providing remote support to Afghan partners take some time for self care.

It is normal and natural to feel affected by human suffering and the pressures of working in emergency situations – especially if exposed to distressing or graphic material or stories on a regular basis. However, it is important to be able to recognise and respond early on to the signs of psychological impact.

Compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma are two such impacts, and commonly arise in those whose roles involve responding to the suffering of others; they can easily contribute to burnout.

To help colleagues cope with the impacts of the Afghan crisis, Open Briefing has launched two new resources:

• Free workshops for non-profit and foundation staff and volunteers
• An infosheet on compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout

These can be used alongside the self-care guidance in the Holistic Security Manual that accompanies our Defender’s Protocol.