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A raw and authentic podcast for those who work or volunteer in animal care, welfare, or activism, who are struggling with compassion fatigue, burnout, grief and loss, secondary traumatic stress, and other mental health concerns. Through both solo and guest episodes, I blend science, psychology, spirituality, and even a touch of "woo woo" to help you manage compassion fatigue, build resilience, and make your passion for helping animals sustainable. If you're involved in animal caregiving, rescue, trap-neuter return (TNR), sheltering, animal control, cruelty investigations, veterinary medicine, fostering, wildlife or marine rehabilitation and conservation, animal law or lobbying, ethical veganism, or any other role in animal care, welfare, or activism, and struggling with the consequences of caring so much that it hurts, this podcast is for you!
The host, Jen Blough, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor, compassion fatigue coach and speaker, and author with more than 35 years of experience in animal welfare and activism. She is the author of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior and the upcoming book, Beyond Compassion Fatigue.
Episodes
Sep 3, 2026
Sep 3, 2026
7 min
Warning: This episode contains discussions of suicide, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, overdose, and death by suicide. Please take care of yourself while listening. You are always welcome to skip this episode or step away if the content feels overwhelming.
Suicide is a difficult subject, but one we can’t afford to avoid.
In this episode, I share an excerpt from Chapter five of Beyond Compassion Fatigue: Trauma, Resilience, and Recovery in Animal Care and Advocacy, which explores suicide awareness and prevention in animal welfare.
In this excerpt, we explore:
- Why suicide can be particularly relevant to animal care and advocacy professionals
- The impact of euthanasia exposure and repeated encounters with animal suffering
- How workplace culture, isolation, and lack of support can increase vulnerability
- The connection between perfectionism, self-sacrifice, guilt, shame, and suicide risk
- Why we need to move beyond statistics and talk openly about the human beings behind them
- The importance of recognizing warning signs and risk factors
- Why creating cultures where people can ask for help is an essential part of suicide prevention
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, you don't have to face it alone. In the US, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Beyond Compassion Fatigue: Trauma, Resilience, and Recovery in Animal Care and Advocacy is available for pre-order, with publication coming February 9, 2027.
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