Ability

People are the most productive when they feel welcome, respected and safe. In the human dignity world, the risk to develop compassion fatigue (physical and mental exhaustion and emotional withdrawal), vicarious trauma (a profound shift in worldview that can occur in anyone who continuously engages empathetically with survivors of traumatic incidents) and burnout (the slower onset of physical and emotional exhaustion that can result from being powerless, unsatisfied or overwhelmed) is much higher than amongst other professions, and this amongst volunteers and staff members alike. The daily activities of those promoting and protection human rights are accompanied by perpetual stress. Compared to other professions, the continuous exposure to personal stories of human rights violations, the potential risk of reprisals and the lengthiness to achieve long-lasting change leads to an additional increase of a person's individual stress level. 

To acknowledge and mitigate such risk, and support your people when affected, plays an important role in your ability keep them on board, and thus your capability to continue to promote and defend human dignity.

• The Self-Care and Self-Defense Manual for Feminist Activists is a resource for women and girls to get to know yourself better, optimize your strengths, reflect upon your context and work on caring for yourself. The authors Marina Bernal, Artemisa, and Elige have proposed a series of reflections and exercises that are an invitation to dedicate a few moments a day, or a week, just to yourself. This, in itself, is an important step forward in building personal self-care strategies and is a vital basis for self-defense against various forms of violence. The book has been published by CREA , an Indian organization that advances women's human rights and the sexual rights of all people by building leadership, influencing social movements, expanding discourses, and creating enabling social and policy environments.

• A Well-Being Workbook for Youth Activists was drafted together with youth activists and informed by realities faced by Amnesty International youth activists across the globe, to support youth activists in their journey to strengthen their self-care and make us all recognize the need to look after each other as we stand up for human rights.

This workshop tool informs readers of common signs of burnout and provides information on how to deal with this burnout, including a personal worksheet.

The National Institute of Mental Health of the Czech Republic has developed a mental health guide that has been adapted by the Federation Global Initiative on Psychiatry for all those promoting and protecting human rights. The online platform contains a combination of self-care tools, one self-tests and explanations and advice what to do when you cannot withstand the exposure to human rights violations anymore.

Mental Health and Human Rights Info is a resource database providing free information about the consequences of human rights violations on mental health in the contexts of disaster, war and conflict, such as flashbacks, anxiety and panic. They have developed techniques based on the specific needs of gender.

• ​This article by two human rights practitioners discusses the mental health challenges posed by human rights research, and details useful techniques to protect human rights advocates whose work exposes them to vast quantities of traumatic material which can strengthen resilience and reduce the risk of vicarious trauma

• Open Briefing builds resistance and resilience among the people and communities challenging power. The organisation provides consultancy and training to help nonprofits and foundations to implement staff and partner mental mental health  care, and well-being.

• The Humanitarian Leadership Academy has published on Kaya, its global learning platform a free course on wellness and resilience for frontline workers and managers that is at the same time adapted to human rights defenders. 

Learn from your peers

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is an international  network of civil society organisations (CSOs) dedicated to empowering  and supporting people working for peace, human rights, development and  protecting the environment that has been exceptional in supporting their staff to adjust to mental challenges in a virtual work place.

• Learn from your peers

Learn from TARSHI, India, how the organisation supports in staff in building mental health resilience. 

• The Human Rights Resilience Project is a collaborative space to bring together resources, research, and tools to improve resilience and well-being within the human rights community.

A specific podcast dedicated to human rights defenders in exile from Myanmar shares peer experiences and support to uphold strong mental health in exile.