Sudanese trauma specialist Manal Mohamed Eltayeb explains how repeated exposure to others’ suffering can affecting how people think, feel, relate, and view the world. She outlines key warning signs to help people recognise when exposure to trauma is taking a toll, and highlights the importance of supportive organisational cultures, supervision, and peer support — especially for Sudanese civil society actors documenting atrocities.
Manal Mohamed Eltayeb spoke with Wayamo’s International Criminal Lawyer & Project Coordinator Linda Bore on the sidelines of a Wayamo training and mentoring sessions for Sudanese civil society organisations in Kampala, Uganda in November 2025 where she held a session on vicarious trauma. She spoke about practical strategies for protection and care, particularly for human rights documenters, journalists, and humanitarian workers, offering grounded, compassionate guidance on how to continue bearing witness without losing oneself in the process.
Time stamps:
00:44 What Is Vicarious Trauma and Why It Matters
01:21 Warning Signs: Emotional, Physical, and Behavioural Red Flags
03:03 Strategies: Boundaries, Supervision, and Emotionally Safe Workplaces
04:19 Protecting Mental Health While Documenting Trauma and Atrocities
06:49 The Rescuer vs Hero Mindset and Its Psychological Risks
09:15 Empathy vs Sympathy: Trauma-Informed Interviewing Practices
10:50 Separating Work from Personal Life and Finding Hope
