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Resilient Responders

Empathy Fatigue

What is empathy fatigue and how can we care for ourselves when we experience it?

Last updated 28 May 2026

What is Empathy Fatigue?

Empathy fatigue refers to an emotional exhaustion that manifests as the reduced ability of an emergency responder to be empathetic towards the survivor they are working with.

Graphic showing "burnout plus secondary trauma equals empathy fatigue". Burnout is defined as a state of emotional, physical & mental exhaustion caused by excessive & prolonged stress while secondary trauma is defined by an indirect exposure to trauma through a firsthand account/narrative of a traumatic event.

Signs and Symptoms

While many firefighters and paramedics are good at internalising operational stress while functioning well from the perspective of others, empathy fatigue can be a real possibility for some without any effective coping mechanisms and strong personal boundaries put in place.

Do you recognise any of these signs and symptoms of empathy fatigue in yourself or your colleagues?

Four coloured boxes list common signs of empathy fatigue: Physical (e.g., headaches, fatigue), Emotional (e.g., irritability, guilt), Behavioural (e.g., isolation, changes in appetite), Cognitive (e.g., difficulty concentrating, memory lapses).

Note: The manner in which empathy fatigue is experienced and manifested differs across individuals.

Many firefighters and paramedics will likely experience one or more symptoms of empathy fatigue at some point in their careers. However, these symptoms become a problem when they begin to interfere with an individual's ability to function.

How impaired daily functioning can look like differs across individuals, but generally adds up to being unable to meet the minimum responsibilities of work, home, or self-care. Here are some examples:

Illustrations show how empathy fatigue can affect daily functioning, such as suboptimal performance, challenges in interpersonal relationships, and neglecting personal health.

In our eagerness to help others, we sometimes forget that to be able to do so, we have to take care of ourselves first. One way to take care of yourself is to set boundaries, so that you can function well at work and enjoy time away from work. Other ways of self-care include taking up a hobby, listening to music, walking in nature, or spending more time with loved ones.

Taking care of yourself also includes building your physical fitness, mental fitness, emotional fitness, and social fitness, which you can start doing today!

Note: While the terms 'compassion' and 'empathy' are often used interchangeably, recent research has found that the term 'empathy fatigue' is more appropriate, compared to using the term 'compassion fatigue'.

[You have come to the last page of the section on Managing Operational Stress. Check out the other section on Being a Resilient Responder!]

References