Introduction
Red teaming plays a critical role across cybersecurity, AI safety, and trust and safety operations, yet the psychological demands of this work are often underestimated. Unlike reactive roles, red teamers proactively simulate harmful scenarios, placing them at heightened risk of stress, moral injury, and burnout. Despite growing awareness of mental health in high-pressure technical environments, existing wellbeing supports are rarely designed for the unique ethical and cognitive challenges of adversarial work. This whitepaper examines why traditional wellbeing models fall short for red teaming roles and outlines the need for tailored, trauma-informed approaches that support resilience, ethical practice, and sustained performance.
Key Takeaways
- Red Teaming Carries Distinct Psychological Risks — The proactive and adversarial nature of red teaming introduces unique stressors, including moral injury, secondary traumatic stress, and paradoxical success-related burnout.
- Traditional Wellbeing Models Are Insufficient — Programs designed for content moderation or general technical roles do not adequately address the ethical conflicts and cognitive demands of red team work.
- Moral Injury Is a Critical, Under-Recognized Factor — Deliberately simulating harmful behaviors can create lasting identity strain and ethical tension if not properly supported.
- Organizational Culture Shapes Wellbeing Outcomes — Leadership practices, psychological safety, and trust strongly influence whether red teamers engage with available support.
- Tailored, Trauma-Informed Support Is Essential — Effective wellbeing strategies must be role-specific, confidential, and embedded into everyday workflows to sustain long-term resilience.
