Employee Wellness

Wellness & Well-Being for Prosecution Professionals

Our Commitment to Your Well-Being

Working in prosecution is meaningful, demanding, and often emotionally complex. Prosecutors and professional staff routinely encounter traumatic material, high-stakes decisions, and cumulative stress that can impact well-being over time. We recognize that this work carries real occupational risks and that caring for those who serve the justice system is essential to sustaining ethical, effective, and compassionate practice.
This page is intended to provide general, trauma-informed information and external resources for all personnel working in prosecution. While this office does not provide direct wellness or crisis services, we want staff to know that support exists and that seeking help is a sign of professionalism, not weakness.

Understanding Occupational Stress in Prosecution

Professionals working in prosecution may experience:

• Repeated exposure to violence, abuse, and human suffering
• High workloads and time-sensitive decision-making
• Moral stress and ethical complexity
• Public scrutiny and adversarial dynamics
• Chronic stress, burnout, compassion fatigue, or secondary traumatic stress

These responses are normal reactions to abnormal stressors. Experiencing them does not reflect personal failure or lack of resilience.

Signs You May Benefit from Additional Support

• Emotional numbness, irritability, or feeling overwhelmed
• Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
• Persistent anxiety, sadness, or exhaustion
• Increased cynicism or detachment
• Physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach issues, or fatigue
• Changes in coping behaviors (withdrawal, substance use, overworking)

Early support can reduce long-term impacts and help maintain professional effectiveness and personal well-being.

Trauma-Informed Self-Care Practices

While self-care does not replace professional support, the following practices may help mitigate occupational stress:

• Maintaining regular sleep, nutrition, and movement routines
• Setting boundaries between work and personal life when possible
• Taking breaks from graphic or emotionally intense material
• Staying connected with trusted colleagues, friends, or family
• Engaging in grounding activities (breathing, mindfulness, time outdoors)
• Using vacation or personal leave when available

Self-care is a professional responsibility, not an indulgence.

Confidential Internal & External Support Resources

The following confidential, internal and external resources are available to prosecution personnel in Georgia and nationwide.

Immediate Emotional Support

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
  Call or text 988 | Available 24/7
  Confidential support for emotional distress or crisis situations.

State and SPCR Employees

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) | PAC provides this program for all employees (both state and SPCR) to support them, recognizing the stress and emotional toll that can come with their profession.

Mental Health & Education Resources

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) | National organization providing education, support, and mental health resources for individuals and families, including workplace stress and trauma-related concerns.
• NAMI Georgia | State-specific education programs, support groups, and referrals.

Prosecution-Specific Wellness Resources

• National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) – Prosecutor Wellness | Resources addressing occupational stress, secondary trauma, resilience, and wellness within prosecution and the criminal justice profession.

Legal Profession Wellness Resources (Attorneys)

• State Bar of Georgia – Center for Lawyer Wellbeing | Education, programming, and resources focused on the physical, emotional, and professional well-being of Georgia attorneys, including those working in prosecution.
• State Bar of Georgia – Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) | Confidential support for attorneys experiencing stress, burnout, depression, substance use concerns, or other personal and professional challenges. Bar members may have access to peer support and limited counseling.
• Georgia Lawyers Helping Lawyers | A confidential peer-support network offering one-on-one support from trained volunteers within the legal profession.

Note: These resources are offered independently through the State Bar of Georgia and are generally available to licensed attorneys in good standing.

Georgia Mental Health Access

• Georgia Crisis & Access Line (GCAL) | Statewide access to mental health, substance use, and crisis resources
  Call 1-800-715-4225 | Available 24/7
• Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists – License Verification & Provider Information | Official state board that regulates and lists licensed mental health professionals in Georgia
  https://sos.ga.gov/board-professional-counselors-social-workers-and-marriage-family-therapists

Confidentiality and Professional Responsibility

Seeking mental health support is confidential and does not reflect negatively on professional competence, ethics, or career advancement. Proactively addressing wellness concerns can strengthen judgment, decision-making, and longevity in this field.

A Culture of Awareness and Respect

This office is committed to fostering a culture that:

• Recognizes the emotional demands of prosecution work
• Encourages awareness of trauma exposure and stress
• Respects privacy and professional boundaries
• Supports ethical practice through wellness and resilience

No one is expected to carry this work alone.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911 or contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.