Developing a Wellness at Work Plan - Dr. Richard Janka Artwork

Mental Agility for Forensic Scientists

Jen Dillon shares her story and chats with both peers and experts to cultivate a culture of resiliency and sustainability in the field of forensic science. Forensic scientists experience a unique set of stressors including vicarious trauma and burnout due to their chronic exposure to traumatic content on the job. The goal is to create a community to build an awareness and a self-care practice to mitigate these stressors and create a healthier, more productive workplace.

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Mental Agility for Forensic Scientists

Developing a Wellness at Work Plan - Dr. Richard Janka

November 22, 2020 • Jennifer Dillon • Episode 5

Dr. Janka explains the differences between a wellness program and disease management and emphasizes that we all need to develop resources, have a plan and support system in place for our well-being. But we don’t have to wait until we experience a critical incident to put our plans into action. He breaks down what happens physiologically and emotionally when we experience a traumatic event and explains what vicarious trauma is and how the technique of compartmentalization can be applied to prevent personalization of our work. Finally, Dr J and I talk about workplace peer support programs and how we might be able to integrate them into a forensic setting.

Host: Jen Dillon jdillon4n6@gmail.com
Sponsored by Midwestern Association of Forensic Scientists: www.mafs.net
Music Credit: Joseph McDade