ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the concept of secondary trauma and related constructs (e.g., vicarious traumatisation, empathic stress, compassion fatigue) in the context of humanitarian workers engaged in the provision of aid to refugees passing along the Balkan route during the European refugee crisis. The data from the comprehensive study on secondary trauma among humanitarian workers in Serbia are presented alongside the existing literature overview. The chapter deals with three main clusters of risk factors for secondary traumatisation: work-related (working conditions, work overload, peer support, and cooperation); trauma-related (the amount and quality of exposure to trauma); and person-related (adaptive and maladaptive coping mechanisms). In addition, the outcomes of secondary exposure to trauma, such as quality of life and symptoms of depression and anxiety, are discussed. Finally, the importance of prevention and early detection of the first symptoms of indirect exposure to trauma is highlighted.
