Burnout in Churches and Christian Faith-Based Organisations

Whatever form trauma takes it is important to understand because:
• Trauma is everywhere and Christian leaders will encounter traumatised people.
• It is now recognised that even ‘just’ bearing witness to the impact of human tragedy in the lives
of others can cause a costly toll on an individuals’ well-being and health.
• Validating and normalising the impact of trauma can transform lives and communities and
dissolve feelings of suffering in silence.
• The health and well-being of the Christian leaders matters too, and we want them to keep
pursuing their God-given destinies and not be hindered, limited, or knocked out by the impact
of trauma and burnout.
• Being equipped and understanding trauma-informed care can shape and transform cultures
and lives, giving hope to a better and prosperous future.
Just like the COVID-19 virus is a threat to anyone anywhere, the impact of trauma poses a similar
danger. Therefore, acting strategically and together will stop its spread and reduce its impact on
individuals and communities. A three-word phrase is suggested, with echoes of COVID-19.
1. Be Alert
This section explores the signs, symptoms and causes of trauma for the three main trauma-related
phenomena of Compassion Fatigue, Secondary Trauma, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD),
together with burnout and stress.
2. Protect Your Health and Well-being
This explores ways to maintain and develop resilience in the workplace and personal life to
reduce the risk of long-term damage of trauma exposure and burnout.
3. Staying Safe
This introduces new ways of how to live in a broken world where trauma exists. We are slowly
becoming a trauma-aware society which is led by Trauma-informed Care (TIC) initiates. TIC’s are
set up to educate and inform organisations and Government-led establishments about the impact
of trauma and ways to reduce causing further harm to the people in our society.
Be Alert
Tables 2, 3 and 4 introduced compassion fatigue, secondary trauma and PTSD, the signs, symptoms, and
triggers associated with which are detailed in Table 5. In addition, Table 5 includes the same detail for
stress and burnout. Whilst only GP’s, Psychiatrists and medical professionals can give formal diagnosis
of these conditions, recognising the signs, symptoms and causes gives us a key to prevention and
recovery.
Trauma turns our whole world upside down and causes physiological changes that affect daily
functioning. For some people, the symptoms of trauma can take weeks, months or even years to
surface and not everyone will react to the same event in the same way. Trauma may be a single
disturbing experiencing or can occur over a series of events.
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