Compassion Fatigue
Why do we get overwhelmed, switch off or even get burnout from the demands made on us by the world and people we care for?
We hear about disasters and bad things happening in the world around the clock. Thanks to our TVs and smartphones we are bombarded 24/7. And charities use those same platforms to appeal to us for donations almost as frequently.
Those whose job it is to care – doctors, nurses, mothers even – face even more relentless demands on their compassion. Until one day some feel they cannot go on anymore.
We are all vulnerable to compassion fatigue – whether we are unable to deal with more bad news, or to care for our patients and children. But why do we get it? Why do we stop caring? And what is the impact on society when people just switch off and tune out?
Photo: Overwhelmed by the demands made on us. Credit: Getty Creative Images
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Broadcasts
- Mon 1 Oct 201812:32GMTBBC World Service except News Internet
- Mon 1 Oct 201821:06GMTBBC World Service except News Internet
- Tue 2 Oct 201801:32GMTBBC World Service except News Internet
- Mon 8 Oct 201805:32GMTBBC World Service South Asia
- Mon 16 Mar 202009:06GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & East Asia only
- Mon 16 Mar 202013:32GMTBBC World Service except News Internet
- Mon 16 Mar 202018:06GMTBBC World Service Australasia
- Mon 16 Mar 202021:06GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Mon 16 Mar 202023:06GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Tue 17 Mar 202002:32GMTBBC World Service except West and Central Africa
- Tue 17 Mar 202003:32GMTBBC World Service West and Central Africa
- Sun 22 Mar 202005:32GMTBBC World Service Europe and the Middle East
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