Activist Mental Health
Burnout, trauma, and compassion fatigue are endemic in our movement; they are an occupational risk for those of us who become aware of the insurmountable scale of animal suffering in our world, and rather than trying to justify or deny it’s existence we dedicate our lives and often sacrifice our own needs to take on the gargantuan task of trying to end the systems that sustain animal suffering. Sadly, far too often our reward for this righteous path is being faced with ridicule, resistance, criticism, or indifference. Being a person who cares deeply about others is tough, especially so when we find ourselves experiencing vystopia.
But you aren’t alone, you are part of a thriving global community, a support network who elevate each other and when times get tough we take care of our most precious resource; our volunteers. Below, we have compiled a “mental health first aid kit” - a list of resources available to activists.
Please note; although we are sadly familiar with the mental health challenges frequently faced by animal advocates, we are not mental health professionals. We The Free can not take responsibility for the content of the websites and programmes linked below, and the inclusion of such links does not neccesarily form a recommendation or endorsement of the content or views expressed within. We have no control over the content, nature, or availability of said resources. Access the listed resources at your own risk.
Resilience Building Resources
One of the best ways to deal with the challenges we have discussed is to pre-emptively build up our resilience and identify strategies that work for us; to avoid a scramble to identify the right support once we reach a point of crisis, burnout, or otherwise find ourself in a state of poor mental health. This might mean engaging in training, developing healthy habits, identifying our support networks, and bookmarking this resource list just in case you find yourself in need of these tools.
Sustainable Vegan Advocacy
Interactive Online Training
Unsustainable vegan advocacy—relating to vegan advocacy in a way that’s not healthy or productive—is widespread among vegans, and it’s a key cause of burnout.
This course explains the causes of unsustainable advocacy among vegans and offers evidence-based strategies to make your advocacy more sustainable. You’ll learn practical tools for spotting the warning signs of burnout, reversing its effects, identifying and honoring your needs, and building resilience—so that you can feel fulfilled and in balance while advocating and/or practicing veganism effectively for years to come.
Developed by leaders and educators with decades of experience in animal advocacy, the course features short, engaging videos accompanied by activities and resources to help you deepen your learning. Use the coupon code “WTFACTIVISTS” to access for free.
In Defence of Animals (IDA) Resources
In Defense of Animals Sustainable Activism campaign helps people who help animals deal with compassion fatigue, burnout, and secondary trauma caused by the tragedy-filled nature of their noble work. We support animal activists by providing emotional and spiritual resources including a support line, an online support group, and monthly webinars with experts in the field of animal protection and activist self-care.
You can find out more about In Defence of Animals on their website.
Animal Activist Support Line
This Support Line is available 24/7. Support Line counselors have been trained in nonviolent communication and are passionate animal advocates themselves.
Our goal is to help animal activists gain clarity on their missions, work effectively and efficiently, create successful and satisfying careers, balance activism with the rest of their life, and avoid or heal from burnout and trauma.
Call when you feel...
Overwhelmed by never-ending animal rights work
Frustrated by others’ responses to your animal concerns
Angry because your efforts didn’t create the changes you anticipated
Alone in your quest to help animals
Upset by a family or work conflict due to your values
Discouraged because change is happening too slowly
Call when you seek...
Guidance regarding a personal conflict with another activist
Strategic activist resources
Involvement in the animal rights/vegan community
Balance in your life
Self-care tools
Strategies to help animals
Connection with someone who cares
Activist Support Groups
Vegan Mental Health Support: “This is a group for vegans with mental health issues to discuss their problems, get support and generally share feelings and information that is useful to them or others.”: https://www.facebook.com/groups/veganselfhelp
It can also be powerful for local communities to form our own support groups, for example on Whatsapp or Facebook messenger. Speak to your local WTF organizer if you would like support in forming a group.
Vegan Professionals
IDA also maintain a list of therapists who are sensitive to animal advocate issues, some of which offer discounted rates or sliding scales for referrals from their support line.
Mindfulness & Meditation
There is a growing evidence base to support the practices of meditation and mindfulness as potentially effective therapies for stress, depression, anxiety, and compassion fatigue.
“Meditation can be defined as a set of techniques that are intended to encourage a heightened state of awareness and focused attention. Meditation is also a consciousness-changing technique shown to have many benefits on psychological well-being.” - verywellmind.com
Meditation has been practiced in cultures all over the world for thousands of years.
“Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us” - www.mindful.org
Mindfulness and meditation are often mentioned together, but you don’t have to meditate to be mindful.
“Mindfulness meditation includes, among others, both mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) -verywellmind.com”
Mindfulness & Meditation Resources
Insight Timer has a myriad of features — meditation music, guided meditation, and a customizable meditation timer.
Aura provides three-minute daily meditations and allows you to track your mood and help you figure out optimal times to meditate.
Ten Percent Happier has meditation lessons by experts created just for beginners. Try it for free.
Calm, a web and smartphone app that work together, targets specific parts of your life—breathing, meditating, relaxing and sleeping—to become more mindful.
Headspace is a mindfulness app with an easy-to-use interface that takes the seriousness and intimidation out of meditation
Mindful.org has a comprehensive list of resources to help you get started.