Mindful Business Charter Community Area

Suitable for: HR, wellbeing, D&I, risk, learning & development roles and anyone within MBC organisations interested in the topic.

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Download the slides and catch up on our this webinar and delivered by CiC Wellbeing, on Vicarious Trauma and Psychosocial Risks in High-Pressure Environments.

With 964,000 UK workers reporting work-related stress, depression or anxiety, mental ill-health remains the leading cause of work-related illness.  In high-pressure sectors, risks are amplified by long hours, constant availability, and exposure to challenging or distressing material. Understanding the risks inherent in the work we do is a recommendation in the 2024 Best Practice Guidelines.

The webinar explored common psychosocial risks, including heavy workloads, high-stakes work, competitive cultures, and isolation — all of which can contribute to burnout, low mood, and withdrawal.  A key focus was vicarious trauma — the impact of indirect exposure to others’ trauma — which can lead to emotional exhaustion, reduced confidence, sleep disruption, and detachment if left unaddressed.

What can organisations do? Practical steps include:

Embedding trauma-informed practices (safety, trust, choice, collaboration)

Supporting leaders to recognise early signs of stress

Creating space for regular wellbeing conversations

Encouraging breaks, recovery time, and manageable workloads

About CiC Wellbeing

CiC supports organisations to build sustainable performance through better wellbeing, offering specialist training, consultancy, and employee support services tailored to high-pressure environments.

If you'd like to chat to CiC about how we could support your organisation, drop Claire an email at cneal@cicwellbeing.com.

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