Articles

by Paul Gullon-Scott BSc MA MSc MSc FMBPSS

Digital Forensic Investigators (DFIs) operate under immense psychological and operational pressure. Their daily responsibilities often involve examining disturbing content, making time-sensitive decisions, and managing high-stakes caseloads. This relentless exposure to trauma and stress can lead to serious psychological consequences, including burnout, anxiety, secondary traumatic stress, and symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder. These challenges are often magnified by an organisational culture that lacks supportive leadership, suffers from poor team cohesion, and perpetuates stigma around mental health and help-seeking behaviours. Addressing these systemic issues requires more than individual coping strategies—it calls for a trauma-informed transformation at the organisational level.

Mental Health in Digital Forensics

DFIs are routinely exposed to distressing material, particularly in investigations involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). This exposure significantly heightens the risk of psychological harm, including secondary trauma and long-term emotional distress. Despite the clear risks, organisational responses have often been inadequate. Many DFIs report feeling unsupported by their leadership, working in environments characterised by unclear expectations and a lack of psychological safety. Additionally, cultural norms within forensic units frequently discourage openness about mental health, framing vulnerability as weakness and contributing to a climate of silence and stigma.

Adapt & Evolve’s Integrated Response

Adapt & Evolve, a UK-based consultancy, proposes a structured and evidence-informed model for transforming the culture of digital forensic units. This model integrates leadership development, psychological safety, and ongoing organisational assessment to create environments that support resilience and well-being, as follows:

Leadership and Team Performance

Central to this model is the development of emotionally intelligent, trauma-aware leaders. Adapt & Evolve delivers bespoke leadership workshops that emphasise trust-building, clear communication, and authentic connection. These sessions encourage managers to cultivate empathy and demonstrate genuine concern for the well-being of their staff. By fostering a culture of openness and support, leaders can dramatically improve team morale and cohesion. Rather than viewing leadership purely as a directive role, the approach advocates for a balance between accountability and emotional sensitivity.

Psychological Safety and Resilience

Creating psychologically safe workplaces is fundamental to mitigating the emotional toll of digital forensic work. Drawing on frameworks developed by Edmondson, Adapt & Evolve’s training helps organisations establish cultures in which employees feel comfortable expressing concerns and acknowledging distress without fear of judgement or reprisal. Psychological safety not only enhances individual well-being but also supports collective performance by reducing mistakes and encouraging collaboration.

Organisational Assessments and Reviews

In order to implement meaningful change, organisations must first understand the specific stressors and cultural barriers affecting their teams. Adapt & Evolve uses a suite of diagnostic tools, including anonymous surveys, structured interviews, and cultural audits to collect actionable data. These insights allow interventions to be tailored to the unique needs of each organisation, ensuring maximum relevance and sustainability.

Bridging Leadership Gaps and Building Trust

DFIs frequently report that their leaders appear emotionally disengaged, focused solely on operational outcomes while overlooking signs of psychological distress. This disconnection undermines trust and reduces the likelihood that staff will seek help when struggling. Adapt & Evolve’s approach addresses this by equipping leaders with the ability to recognise and respond to stress and trauma within their teams.

Training focuses on empathetic communication, the importance of active listening, and the value of emotional transparency. As leaders begin to model these behaviours, they foster a more trusting and supportive environment, directly influencing team morale, retention, and productivity.

Transforming Organisational Culture to Reduce Stigma

One of the most persistent barriers to mental health support in forensic settings is stigma. To dismantle this, Adapt & Evolve supports organisations in creating psychologically safe environments where vulnerability is not only accepted but encouraged.

Initiatives include establishing peer-led resilience groups and confidential support systems that allow individuals to access help without fear of career consequences. Equally important is the role of senior leaders in modelling these values when those at the top of an organisation share their own experiences and normalise mental health conversations. It signals to staff that seeking support is both valid and encouraged.

Why Trauma-Informed Practice Matters

Organisations that adopt a trauma-informed approach stand to gain significantly in both human and operational terms. Staff well-being improves as burnout, stress, and emotional exhaustion decline. Teams report increased engagement, stronger cohesion, and greater job satisfaction. Operationally, the benefits are just as significant: psychologically safe teams make fewer errors, collaborate more effectively, and adapt more readily to change. Importantly, trauma-informed practices also foster a sense of shared purpose and organisational integrity, shifting workplace culture towards sustained well-being and excellence.

Blueprint for a Trauma-Informed DFI Unit

A truly trauma-informed digital forensic unit begins with a rigorous assessment of organisational health. By identifying leadership shortfalls and cultural barriers, the groundwork is laid for evidence-based intervention. Leadership development should be tailored to the specific needs of DFI teams, prioritising empathy, communication, and trauma-awareness.

Simultaneously, policies must embed psychological safety into daily operations such as confidential reporting channels, flexible workload accommodations, and scheduled well-being check-ins. Creating peer support structures and ensuring these are accessible, trusted, and well-publicised reinforces a culture of shared responsibility and mutual care.

Finally, continuous monitoring and refinement of these practices ensures that organisations remain agile, responsive, and committed to long-term improvement.

Well-Being as a Strategic Priority

The mental health and well-being of Digital Forensic Investigators must be recognised as both an ethical priority and an operational imperative. The Adapt & Evolve integrated framework offers a holistic, evidence-based strategy for fostering resilient teams and supportive leadership. By embedding psychological safety, conducting thorough organisational assessments, and cultivating trauma-informed leadership, forensic organisations can move beyond crisis management and instead build cultures where well-being is actively protected and performance is sustainably enhanced.

Through intentional cultural transformation, DFIs can be supported not just to survive their roles, but to thrive within them—ultimately ensuring that the people at the forefront of digital investigations are given the care, respect, and support they so rightly deserve. For more on this topic, listen to our recent podcast with Adapt & Evolve.

Paul Gullon-Scott BSc MA MSc MSc FMBPSS is a former Digital Forensic Investigator with nearly 30 years of service at Northumbria Police in the UK, specializing in child abuse cases. As a recognized expert on the mental health impacts of digital forensic work, Paul now works as a Higher Assistant Psychologist at Roseberry Park Hospital in Middlesbrough and is the developer of a pioneering well-being framework to support digital forensics investigators facing job-related stress. He recently published the research paper “UK-based Digital Forensic Investigators and the Impact of Exposure to Traumatic Material” and has chosen to collaborate with Forensic Focus in order to raise awareness of the mental health effects associated with digital forensics. Paul can be contacted in confidence via LinkedIn.

by Paul Gullon-Scott BSc MA MSc MSc FMBPSS

Digital forensic investigators (DFIs) play a vital role in the criminal justice system, often examining distressing material such as child exploitation images, violent crime evidence, and cyber offenses. The emotional toll of this work is significant, leading to challenges such as vicarious trauma, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress disorder (STSD).

Despite the known risks, mental health management in this field has traditionally been reactive, addressing symptoms after they appear. Reactive strategies, while necessary, often fail to address the root causes of stress, leaving DFIs vulnerable to chronic emotional challenges. By contrast, preventative approaches focus on equipping investigators with tools and strategies to maintain resilience and mental health proactively.

This article explores the benefits and limitations of both reactive and preventative approaches, drawing on recent research and practitioner insights. By evaluating the strengths and shortcomings of each, we advocate for a more balanced, hybrid strategy that better supports the long-term wellbeing of those working in digital forensics.

Challenges in Digital Forensic Work

The work of DFIs is uniquely demanding due to prolonged exposure to graphic material and the psychological impact of investigating serious crimes. Investigators working on child exploitation cases often report elevated stress levels, with symptoms indicative of secondary traumatic stress. This exposure, coupled with the pressure to meet investigative deadlines, exacerbates emotional strain and leads to a cumulative emotional toll. Many investigators also experience a conflict between their professional responsibilities and the personal toll of witnessing humanity’s darkest behaviors.

In addition to the emotional challenges, organizational factors can amplify stress. Systemic issues exist, such as insufficient institutional support, inadequate training, and high workloads. Investigators frequently report feeling isolated, with limited opportunities for structured emotional processing. Many organizations lack mechanisms such as formal debriefing sessions, leaving investigators to manage their stress in isolation. This lack of support underscores the need for proactive measures to address both the emotional and organizational dimensions of mental health management.

Preventative Approaches to Mental Health

Preventative strategies aim to equip DFIs with the tools needed to handle emotional challenges before they escalate. Resilience training is a cornerstone of this approach, focusing on helping investigators develop coping mechanisms and emotional regulation skills. Research suggests that resilience training can reduce burnout and vicarious trauma among investigators, highlighting its effectiveness as a proactive intervention. These programs often incorporate mindfulness practices, cognitive behavioral techniques, and stress management exercises.

Structured debriefing sessions are another vital preventative measure. Regular, formal debriefings, which provide investigators with a safe space to reflect on their experiences and receive support from peers and supervisors, are important. Organizations that prioritize these sessions often report lower levels of burnout and higher job satisfaction among their staff.

Flexibility in work policies also plays a significant role in prevention. Allowing investigators to adjust their schedules or take mental health leave can help them balance professional demands with personal needs. Creating a workplace culture that normalizes mental health discussions further reduces the stigma of seeking help, enabling investigators to access support without fear of judgment.

However, the success of preventative strategies depends on sustained organizational commitment. Without sufficient resources or consistent leadership support, even well-designed programs may fail to achieve their intended impact.

Reactive Approaches to Mental Health

Reactive strategies focus on addressing mental health challenges once they have already emerged. These approaches include crisis counseling, therapy, and post-incident debriefings. Reactive measures are particularly effective in managing acute mental health crises, such as severe distress following exposure to graphic content. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), for instance, provide short-term counseling services that can help investigators process their emotions and develop coping strategies.

However, reactive approaches have notable limitations. Delays in addressing mental health risks or reliance on negative coping mechanisms can exacerbate secondary traumatic stress (STS) levels, and providing education and support systems is vital to mitigate these risks.​ Reactive measures also tend to focus on individual recovery, often neglecting the systemic factors such as high workloads and poor organizational support that contribute to mental health challenges. As a result, they are often less effective in preventing future episodes of distress.

Despite these limitations, reactive strategies remain essential for addressing immediate needs. When combined with preventative measures, they create a more comprehensive approach to mental health management.

Comparative Analysis of Approaches

Preventative and reactive approaches each offer unique benefits and limitations. Preventative strategies build resilience, reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, and promote long-term wellbeing and prevent staff turnover. However, they require investment and depend on organizational commitment. Reactive strategies, by contrast, are crucial for addressing acute crises but are less effective in mitigating chronic stressors or preventing future issues such as the loss of experienced investigators.

A hybrid approach that integrates both methods provides the most effective solution. For instance, organizations could implement resilience training and regular debriefings while also ensuring access to crisis counseling and EAPs. This combination ensures that both immediate and long-term needs are addressed, fostering a supportive and sustainable work environment.

Recommendations for Implementation

To effectively address the mental health challenges faced by DFIs, organizations should adopt a comprehensive strategy that incorporates both preventative and reactive measures. Key recommendations include:

1. Leadership Commitment: Organizations must prioritize mental health as a core component of their operations. This involves allocating resources for training, mental health leave, and support systems, as well as fostering a culture of openness and support.
2. Mandatory Training: Training programs on resilience, stress management, and coping strategies should be mandatory for all investigators. These programs should address both preventative and reactive aspects of mental health, ensuring that investigators are equipped to manage immediate and long-term challenges.
3. Structured Debriefing: Regular, formal debriefing sessions should be implemented to provide investigators with opportunities to process their experiences and receive peer and professional support. These sessions should be facilitated by trained professionals to ensure their effectiveness.
4. Regular Screening and Counseling: DFIs should undergo regular mental health screenings and have access to appointments with qualified counselors who are culturally aware of the unique pressures associated with working in policing. Culturally competent counselors are better equipped to address the specific stressors faced by investigators, including the stigmas and challenges within law enforcement culture.
5. Flexible Work Policies: Organizations should offer flexible work schedules and mental health leave, allowing investigators to take time off when needed without fear of professional repercussions. These policies can help reduce burnout and improve work-life balance.
6. Ongoing Evaluation: Mental health programs should be regularly evaluated to ensure their effectiveness. Feedback from investigators should be incorporated to refine strategies and address emerging challenges, creating a dynamic and responsive support system.

Call for a Hybrid Approach

Digital forensic investigators face significant mental health challenges due to the emotionally demanding nature of their work. While reactive approaches are essential for addressing immediate crises, they must be complemented by preventative strategies that promote long-term resilience and wellbeing. A hybrid approach, integrating the strengths of both methods, offers the most effective solution.

By implementing regular screenings, culturally aware counseling, resilience training, and flexible work policies, organizations can better support their investigators and enhance both individual health and operational effectiveness. There is a critical need for proactive, comprehensive mental health management tailored to the unique pressures of this profession.

Paul Gullon-Scott BSc MA MSc MSc FMBPSS is a former Digital Forensic Investigator with nearly 30 years of service at Northumbria Police in the UK, specializing in child abuse cases. As a recognized expert on the mental health impacts of digital forensic work, Paul now works as a Higher Assistant Psychologist at Roseberry Park Hospital in Middlesbrough and is the developer of a pioneering well-being framework to support digital forensics investigators facing job-related stress. He recently published the research paper “UK-based Digital Forensic Investigators and the Impact of Exposure to Traumatic Material” and has chosen to collaborate with Forensic Focus in order to raise awareness of the mental health effects associated with digital forensics. Paul can be contacted in confidence via LinkedIn.

by Paul Gullon-Scott BSc MA MSc MSc FMBPSS and Fiona

Throughout my 30 years of service in policing, I was committed to protecting and serving others, but the most challenging chapter of my career came during the 14 years I worked as a Digital Forensic Investigator. Those years placed me at the forefront of confronting some of the darkest aspects of humanity, as I sifted through countless traumatic images and videos documenting the abuse of innocent children. It was work I felt compelled to do, knowing that every piece of evidence could safeguard a child or bring justice to a victim. But the relentless exposure to such horrors took a heavy toll on my mental health and overall well-being.

On reflection, when I found myself at my lowest, I knew I wasn’t the only one affected by my struggles. My family, especially my wife and children, and some very close friends bore the weight of those years alongside me. One of the most under researched areas is the vicarious effect of our role on our families and friends. I asked my wife Fiona to write down the effect it had on my family.

This article, written by her, is my own story and aims to give a voice to the experiences of those who stand by us during our most difficult and dark moments. It’s a deeply personal reflection on the impact that these roles can have not only on those who do the work but on the loved ones who support us.

I asked her to write this because I want to shine a light on the unseen effects of such work on our family and friends and to advocate for better mental health support for those who walk this difficult path. Her words are a testament to the strength, resilience, and compassion of the families and friends who endure so much, and to the need for real change in how we care for those on the front lines of these traumatic professions.

I write this as the wife of a Digital Forensic Investigator who ‘broke’ under the pressures of the job, but who thankfully, through the right support and intensive specialist therapy, came out the other side. I was asked to do this to give voice to the families, and whilst this is of course a hugely personal experience and everyone will be different, I have no doubt people will relate to some of what I write.

My husband was always someone who believed that strength came from containing emotions and shielding the family from the horrors he saw daily at work. He strove to compartmentalise his day job from his home life, never speaking about what he had dealt with or seen at work, pushing that deep inside. ‘Support’ at work was a once yearly 10-minute chat with Occupational Health, after which they wrote a couple of sentences stating he was fit to work. I knew different though. When I would try to talk to him, ask what was wrong or offer an ear, he would deny any problem, saying: “It’s nothing” or “Doesn’t matter”, and shut down any conversation. But it was obvious things were not OK. He was becoming more and more irritable, less able to sleep, spent more time in his own thoughts, increasingly built a ‘wall’ around himself that I could not penetrate, and pushed me away. He started smoking more and more, frequently snacking late at night yet failing to finish a single decent meal, losing weight and looking gaunt and haggard. With friends or wider family he would put on an act of joviality, of ‘normal’, but even that started to slip, and people who had never seen him anything other than caring, kind, interested, and full of enthusiasm for life, started to see more and more frequent glimpses of negativity, grouchiness, and disengagement.

I watched as he started to drink more each weekend, to the point that alcohol was a means to knock himself out in order to sleep (I learned this fact later – at the time, all I saw was a husband getting blind drunk almost every weekend without fail). I cycled between feeling concerned for him and his health, through feeling angry that he was drinking to the point he couldn’t walk straight then lurching off to bed leaving me alone downstairs, to feeling pity for this man who was always so strong and now seemed broken and beaten. I don’t think he ever knew I felt pity; I think it would have broken him further to have known that.

When he was drunk, whatever walls he was trying to build to contain the horrors would weaken, and it would all come out. It came out in various ways. Sometimes he would break down and cry uncontrollably, voicing things I could not understand and speaking of ‘the pink baby’ through wracking sobs and heaving gasps for air.  Sometimes he got angry, was short tempered with me and our children, snapping and barking at the smallest comments or actions. At worst he would throw things, slam doors, storm out. Sometimes in his sleep he would flail around or lash out, punching or kicking me without realising as he battled the demons in his head.

Paranoia started to creep in, and he would make remarks suggesting I didn’t love him, that I thought he wasn’t good enough, that I wanted someone else – all his own thoughts of himself being reflected outwards. His mood was constantly low and negative, so the ‘norm’ became a kind of constant silence interspersed with occasional superficial chat, and as a family we dreaded the weekends, tiptoeing around so as not to trigger any outburst. I would try and excuse or explain any upset to minimise the impact on the kids, but they started to retreat from him and hide away in their rooms at those times, often sending me messages seeking reassurance or needing to talk to me through their fear that something bad would happen. I wrestled with my love for him and my own sense of self, hating myself for starting to wonder if I should leave for my sake and our children’s, never wanting to but crying alone at night at the thought that I may have no choice. I was determined not to let go of who I knew him to truly be, but it was incredibly hard at times.

On several occasions, the horrors he tried to keep away from the home came out, and in his drunkenness he would tell me things he had had to watch and listen to at work. Things he – in sober daytime – insisted he would never share because they were just too awful, describing the sounds, the screams, the images. He never remembered the next day that he had done this, nor did he remember the times he kicked or punched me in his sleep, or accused me of wanting to leave him, or any of the other things that spilled out of his mind from that place of darkness.

At one of his lowest points, after we had argued over nothing, he stormed out of the house in such a state of distress and turmoil I was intensely worried for him. He had turned off his ‘find my friends’, ignored all my calls, and I had no idea where he was or what he was doing. In desperation, I rang one of his best friends, who called him and managed to get through and was able to reassure me he was just getting some headspace. I recently found out he had in fact driven to a local bridge and was contemplating taking his life. Whatever it was that stopped him from doing so, I am eternally grateful.

I and friends tried many times to speak with him and voice our concerns, but these were frequently dismissed. He would diligently go in to work day after day, arguing that if he didn’t do so, then who would save the children being abused? Day after day he would come home a shell of who he used to be. Then finally one day – after months of low mood, drinking, weight loss, poor sleep and other signs of depression and trauma – he conceded that he needed help. I could see the immense effort it took for him to acknowledge that. I could see he thought it made him weak, that he wasn’t being a man. I could see his self-esteem was on the floor; he was utterly broken. We did all we could to communicate that the decision showed strength not weakness, that we were all so proud of him, but all he could think was that he was letting people down, he was letting the children down, he had failed. With much persuasion, love, and encouragement he went to the GP and was signed off from work on long-term sick leave.

Initially he was sent to a counsellor through the Employee Assist Programme. That was, quite frankly, utterly useless. They didn’t have the skillset to deal with the things he was carrying. However, we are lucky that through my work I could source someone qualified in trauma, even though it meant we paid privately, and I am ever grateful to her, and to my husband for attending that first appointment with her. I would pay privately again in a heartbeat to bring the right support to someone I love. It took 13 months of specialist trauma therapy, but the difference was immense. I got my husband back; he was lighter in spirit; he could smile and laugh again.

I look back on those times, the months of darkness and pain, for my husband and for us as a family, and remember the times I nearly walked away. Had my husband not taken the unbelievably brave step to seek help when he did, we may not have survived. I am ever grateful to him for being the man I always knew him to be, for facing his demons and staying with the trauma therapy, for not letting PTSD break him. It so easily could have been different.

Now, several years on, his lived experience not only in the DFI job but of what that job can do to a person, coupled with his sheer determination to help change things so that other DFIs do not have to go through these stressors alone, to raise awareness of the very real risks for vicarious trauma, and to improve mental health and wellbeing support for DFIs, has made him a leading light in the field. I am supremely proud of him and all he does, and I hope that when he reflects on those dark times he can see his strength and the eternal love I and our family have for him.

The PTSD, the darkness, still sits in there, and every now and then it emerges momentarily. I don’t think it will ever go away. He can never unsee or unhear the things he had to deal with over the years, and quite frankly I cannot even begin to imagine how incredibly horrific that must be. Thankfully though, he now knows it for what it is, and knows how to respond to it in a healthy and constructive way. I am behind him 100% as he strives to bring this positivity to fellow DFI’s.

Knowing the toll my work has taken on my family is one of the most difficult truths I’ve had to face. For 14 years as a Digital Forensic Investigator, I was exposed to the worst of humanity, hundreds of thousands of images and videos showing the abuse of children and other horrors. It was work I felt compelled to do, believing it was my responsibility to protect the vulnerable and seek justice. But I failed to see how the horrors of my job were not only eroding my own mental health but were also devastating the people I love most: my wife, our children, my wider family and good friends. I failed to see how I was failing those I love.

Looking back, I see the pain my silence and emotional withdrawal caused. I believed I was shielding them by bottling everything up and carrying the burden alone, but in reality, it created walls that pushed them away. My struggles manifested in ways that hurt them – irritability, emotional distance, and behaviours that I am deeply ashamed of. It breaks my heart to know they had to tiptoe around me, fearing my outbursts or silence.

My wife’s strength and compassion carried us through those dark times. She stood by me, even when I know she questioned whether she could endure it. Her love and resilience are the reasons I eventually found the courage to seek help. I cannot explain how difficult it was for me to look her in the eye and say: “I can’t do this anymore, I’m done”. Her reaction was one of immense relief and love. I will forever regret the pain I caused her and our children, and I am profoundly grateful for their patience, love, and unwavering belief in me.

This realisation is why I asked my wife to write about our journey from her perspective. I want her voice to be heard because it represents the silent struggles of so many families affected by the unspoken traumas of roles like mine. Her perspective sheds light on the vicarious toll this work takes on our loved ones and reinforces the urgent need for better mental health support, not just for professionals but also for the families who support us.

As Fiona points out, I will never be able to unsee what I’ve been exposed to, but as I continue to heal and now spend many hours working to raise awareness about these challenges, I carry a deep sense of responsibility to those who might still be suffering in silence. If sharing our story can help even one family feel less alone or one person seek the help they need, then it is a step towards making amends for what my family endured. I will always be grateful for their love and forgiveness, and to my very good friend who rang me that day and simply talked to me. I now strive every day to ensure I honour my wife, children, wider family and close friends by being the husband, father, uncle, brother and friend they deserve and know me to be. I dedicate this article to my own wife and children and the families of DFIs who are enduring similar experiences. Your resilience and strength are inspiring. Don’t give up on your hero; your unwavering support can make all the difference in their journey.

If anyone out there reads this story and feels inspired to share their own journey, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at paul.gullon-scott@forensicfocus.com. Your story matters, and by sharing it, you may not only help others but also find the process to be deeply cathartic and healing. Together, we can foster understanding, support, and a sense of community in this challenging yet vital field.

I’ll leave you with something I have learned on my journey:

“Even in the darkest chapters, the decision to ask for help is a powerful act of bravery and self-respect not weakness. Healing is not a solitary journey; it’s a collective effort built on love, compassion, and understanding.”

Paul Gullon-Scott BSc MA MSc MSc FMBPSS is a former Digital Forensic Investigator with nearly 30 years of service at Northumbria Police in the UK, specializing in child abuse cases. As a recognized expert on the mental health impacts of digital forensic work, Paul now works as a Higher Assistant Psychologist at Roseberry Park Hospital in Middlesbrough and is the developer of a pioneering well-being framework to support digital forensics investigators facing job-related stress. He recently published the research paper “UK-based Digital Forensic Investigators and the Impact of Exposure to Traumatic Material” and has chosen to collaborate with Forensic Focus in order to raise awareness of the mental health effects associated with digital forensics. Paul can be contacted in confidence via LinkedIn.