Interventions for secondary traumatic stress among mental health professionals serving trauma-affected populations: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND

Mental health professionals (MHPs) working with trauma-affected populations face a significant risk of developing Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS), a condition mirroring post-traumatic stress symptoms due to indirect exposure to trauma. Despite the growing awareness of STS, there remains limited systematic evidence on the effectiveness of interventions specifically targeting STS among MHPs.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review aimed to identify and synthesize empirical studies published between 2013 and 2025 that evaluated interventions designed to reduce STS symptoms in mental health professionals, social workers, and volunteers providing direct psychological support to trauma-exposed individuals.

METHODS

Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental designs, and pilot interventions that assessed STS using validated tools such as the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS) or the STS subscale of the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL). Studies were excluded unless STS was explicitly assessed. Three studies met the inclusion criteria. Only psychological or psychosocial interventions (e.g., supervision, emotion-focused training, self-efficacy training, wellness programs with psychological components) were included in the review.

RESULTS

Interventions included internet-based self-efficacy training, emotion-focused training, and multimodal wellness programs. All studies reported post-intervention reductions in STS symptoms, with statistically significant improvements in related variables such as self-efficacy, burnout, and compassion satisfaction. Group-based and digital delivery formats were prevalent, with durations ranging from 2 weeks to 9 weeks.

CONCLUSION

The review highlights the promising impact of targeted interventions in reducing STS among trauma-facing professionals. While findings support the effectiveness of various approaches, especially those enhancing emotional regulation and self-compassion, further large-scale, longitudinal trials with rigorous outcome assessments are warranted to inform evidence-based mental health workforce policies and practices.