Working with traumatic material: effects on Holocaust Memorial Museum staff

A diary study of Australian lawyers working with traumatic material

Many lawyers experience regular exposure to traumatic material yet little is known about its effects. This study examines what traumatic material affects lawyers, how they respond in the moment and how they recover. The participants (n = 18 lawyers) completed a five-day diary study and a semi-structured interview regarding their experiences. The analysis identified clients' negative emotions and experiences, domestic violence and child abuse as most impactful. The participants reported experiencing sadness, anger, frustration, disgust and/or compassion; some reported not being overly distressed or not experiencing emotions. Most participants reported using social support and emotion-focused coping strategies, drawing on their identities as lawyers to suppress or conceal emotions. At the end of a working day many participants reported coping by working longer hours but also through physical activity and social interactions. We discuss the implications for lawyers' well-being and the role of organisations and education in managing the impacts of traumatic material.

Stress and resilience in military mortuary workers: care of the dead from battlefield to home

The death of a military service member in war provokes feelings of distress and pride in mortuary workers who process the remains. To further understand their reactions, the authors interviewed 34 military and civilian personnel to learn more about their work stresses and rewards. They review stresses of anticipation, exposure, and experience in handling the dead and explore the personal, supervisory, and leadership strategies to reduce negative effects and promote personal growth. These results can be applied to many other situations requiring planning, implementing, and supervising mortuary operations involving mass death.