Staff processing asylum applications are at risk of anxiety, depression and insomnia because of exposure to traumatic personal stories and graphic material. A formal risk assessment at the International Protection Office (IPO) said staff could suffer emotional distress and “empathy fatigue” because of the nature of their work. The risk assessment said: “Hearing a personal account is different to reading about it or peer reviewing someone else’s report.” One risk assessment said steps should be taken to minimise the number of personnel “required to view graphic images". The spokesperson added that around €15,000 had been spent over the past three years on a confidential support and counselling service for IPO staff and panel members.