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What are the range of issues that affect our ability (and desire/willingness) to pay attention to self-care?

The inability to practice authentic, sustainable self-care most likely began in childhood where our early patterning begins. If healthy modeling does not take place due to alcoholism, addictions, abuse or untreated mental health issues, it is likely a child will grow up to be other-directed (i.e, cares for the needs of others before he cares for his own needs. Often children play the role of the parent to adults who are unable to care for themselves.

What are the factors that contribute to these issues?

The factors that contribute to these issues are the inability to focus on oneself in a healthy manner and a lack of basic living skills that are needed for self-preservation (such as communication skills).  

The child in the role of parent becomes hypersensitive to the needs of others. Thus, his or her own needs go unmet. This child develops a overwhelming sense of responsibility and that continues to grow as he or she matures. Compassion fatigue develops in that void where love, care and validation should have been. Instead of providing healthy caregiving to other, the compassion fatigue sufferer takes on the pain as his or her own. The result can be a secondary traumatic stress and numerous symptoms will surface and cripple a life.

What can I do about this as an individual?

Just what we are doing here -- creating an awareness that compassion fatigue is very real and can devastate the life of a caregiver. It takes hard work to change patterns we have had for many years, but with the right information and a desire to live a happier, healthier life, it is possible.

What can our own organizations do about it?

If the majority of staff members in an organization suffer from compassion fatigue, eventually the organization itself will suffer the symptoms. The organization IS the people. Once this happens, the cost is high both financially and in human resources. Worker's Comp claims jump, staff is dysfunctional and unable to work well together, staff members are accident prone and suffer high instances of absenteeism.

What are the international/regional support mechanisms that can help support a culture of self-care? What's missing?

This is a very difficult question to answer. I have been working in this field for the past ten years and I am happy to say I've seen a huge jump in awareness and organizations reaching out for help. The real challenge is getting "buy-in" from management and leadership.  Often it is in the corner office where compassion fatigue levels are the highest. Healing an organization takes time, resources and a lot of effort on the part of everyone involved. But it can be done. We need to create a culture of caring,not only self-care, but care for one another. And it needs to be understood that authentic, sustainable self-care is not about material goods, or cosmetic surgery or being as thin as possible. Authentic, sustainable self-care works from the inside out. It is about kindness, generosity, stewardship of the earth and the respect and dignity of all people.

This is a huge undertaking, but I, for one, believe it is possible -- and it all begins with awareness.

In closing, I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts, beliefs and knowledge. I am in contact with caregivers and organizations worldwide, receiving 50,000 hits a month on my website www.compassionfatigue.org. The good work is spreading.

And I urge everyone reading these words to play a part.

Thank you,
Patricia Smith