Vicarious Trauma in the Workplace: Measuring Hidden Harm

In episode 116, we’re joined by Dr. Beth Stelson, Assistant Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, to unpack an often invisible, but consequential, workplace hazard: vicarious trauma.Vicarious trauma occurs when workers are repeatedly exposed to other people’s traumatic experiences, leading to psychological and physiological stress responses—even when they haven’t experienced the trauma firsthand. This is especially common among healthcare workers, social workers, substance use disorder professionals, and other helping professions, yet it’s rarely treated as a core occupational health issue.We explore:* What vicarious trauma is and how it differs from burnout and PTSD* Why focusing only on symptoms misses the root of the problem* How repeated exposure to trauma at work affects mental health, physical health, job satisfaction, and turnover* New evidence linking vicarious trauma to serious physical health outcomes* The Vicarious Occupational Trauma Exposure (VOTE) Index, a new tool designed to measure where and how trauma exposure happens in the workplace* Why prevention requires organizational and system‑level interventions, not just individual self‑careThis conversation reframes vicarious trauma as a workplace hazard, similar to chemical exposure or noise exposure, and makes a compelling case for redesigning work, increasing organizational responsibility, and protecting the health of the workers our communities depend on most.If you work in healthcare, social services, public health, or any trauma‑exposed role, or if you manage, study, or support people who do, this episode offers a powerful, research‑driven look at why vicarious trauma matters and what can actually be done about it.You can find Dr. Stelson here: https://publichealth.washu.edu/faculty/elisabeth-stelson/You can find the VOTE here: https://psycnet.apa.org/psycarticles/2027-28298-001.pdf This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthywork.substack.com