Project information
Youth workers and the threat of vicarious trauma in the professional field An Integrative self-care (?Safe-youth-workers? SYW)

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Project Identification
2023-1-EE01-KA220-YOU-000159097
Project Period
10/2023 - 12/2025
Investor / Pogramme / Project type
European Union
MU Faculty or unit
Faculty of Education

Violence against children and young people is also a terrible reality in European societies. Studies continue to assume a high number of cases of physical, psychological and sexual violence. In addition to physical injuries, this violence can lead to behavioural and psychological disorders, traumatic experiences, post-traumatic stress disorders and even suicide/homicide. Social and youth workers and others in the support system are exposed to these traumatic narratives and experiences. Both professionals (Vicaroius Trauma, STS, Compassion Fatigue, Burnout) and the support systems in which they work are at risk of being harmed. The project wants to change that. The crucial question now is how the social organization and the professional youth workers can be supported. Theoretically, there are a variety of strategies, tools, and measures to support the system against negative consequences of vicarious trauma effects. One of these strategies is to improve youth workers' self-care skills. As described in Chapter 6, some implications need to be considered as there is no clear definition of a consistent self-care practice. The main aim of the project is to support youth-workers, who are in contact with traumatized young clients and are at risk of vicarious trauma. We want to develop a suitable self-care program, which should contain the main topics of traumatisation, self-support-practise, self-efficacy and to foster resilience. The program is based on following levels: In the developed self-care program, the youth workers should have the opportunity to process what they have experienced under the guidance of trained therapists, to get to know and develop their own resources and thus increase their resilience. Based on existing experiences, strategies, instruments and the specific requirements in the project countries, the following sub-goals are to be achieved in the project: • Social workers and especially youth workers should be sensitized to the topic of substitute trauma. Neighbouring actors (psychotherapists, police, lawyers, ...) should be involved if possible. • The topic of vicarious trauma should be made known in the field of work on an organizational and personal level. • As a central aspect, an integrative "self-care" program is to be developed and implemented.

Sustainable Development Goals

Masaryk University is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to improve the conditions and quality of life on our planet by 2030.

Sustainable Development Goal No.  3 – Good health and well-being Sustainable Development Goal No.  4 – Quality education Sustainable Development Goal No.  16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions

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