title: The Mother Teresa Effect: the modulation of spirituality in using the CISM model with mental health service providers.
abstract: Mental health service providers are at risk of experiencing compassion fatigue, burnout, and vicarious traumatization as a result of working in difficult contexts or when working with individuals who have experienced trauma. Numerous studies have examined the mitigating factors in professional caregivers' stress and related prevention strategies thought to be associated with professional self-care. This retrospective study examined the impact of debriefing strategies referred to as Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) and spirituality in 22 mental health service providers working in a stressful, cross-cultural context. Quantitative analysis of pre and post self-report instruments suggests that training and utilization of CISM techniques may be important in preventing future problems. To the surprise of the researchers, spirituality may not only serve as a protective factor in moderating compassion fatigue, but also increases compassion satisfaction among professional caregivers. Thus, the "Mother Teresa Effect".
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Newmeyer
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Keyes
authors.forename: Sonji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: Kamala
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buford
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mondt
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Okai
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D054521:Cultural Competency; D003906:Developing Countries; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012945:Social Values; D029181:Spirituality; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult