Autocrats seek to limit our ability to participate in our democracy, taking pro-democracy individuals and organizations “off the field” so they can consolidate power. They do this by flooding the zone, overwhelming us all in a constant deluge of attacks, drama, and chaos. It is absolutely critical that we all very intentionally take time for ourselves to prevent burnout and stay in the fight. Protective measures and self-care strategies are crucial for maintaining long-term resilience and hope. This page contains resources to help those engaged in political activities to protect themselves and their communities. None of these resources constitute legal advice and none are a substitute for professional medical care. 

1. Physical and organizational safety

Maintaining your or your organization’s safety is critical to your ability to stay engaged in the work. By securing yourself and the communities you are a part of, you can ensure that vital work — from mobilizing voters to providing essential services — continues. This work is the bedrock of a healthy and functioning democratic society. Check out these resources to learn how to assemble more safely and effectively.

• Nonprofit Investigations Toolkit by Protect Democracy – This is a toolkit that provides resources for nonprofit organizations facing government investigations. It includes information for organizations that may be subject to a search warrant, subpoena, congressional investigation, politicized executive action, and other potential retaliatory government action.
• Democracy Security Project – DSP is a one-stop shop for safety & security support, trainings, resources, and urgent action plans for the pro-democracy movement. They have a range of downloadable resources, as well as online training, and resources for trauma and mental health support. 
• Get In Formation Training Series (G.I.F.T.S.) by Vision Change Win – These trainings offer resources and suggestions for risk assessment and cyber security for organizations, as well as protocols for virtual, trauma-informed training rooted in the legacy of safety strategies developed by oppressed communities.
• If An Agent Knocks (resource) by Center for Constitutional Rights – This is a guide created to offer advice to activists who are likely to be targets of the FBI or other federal investigators. Its purpose is to equip individuals and groups with knowledge to prepare and develop practical responses should a federal agent knock at their door. It was originally developed in 1989 and updated in 2020.

2. Cybersecurity and digital privacy

Prioritizing your own, your family’s, and your communities’ cybersecurity and digital privacy protects your ability to participate in political discourse and civic life safely. Given both continued cyberattacks and the threat of an autocratic administration, it is advisable to secure your digital communications. This not only protects you but also your broader community. An encrypted messaging application like Signal is free and far more secure than traditional text messaging. It also allows you to program messages to automatically disappear after a set time period and you can use it across all your devices, including your desktop. In addition to using more secure channels to communicate, here are some resources that offer guidance on how you can secure your devices and online presence. 

If you only use one resource listed here, make it the Consumer Reports Security Planner. This one-stop shop offers a free personalized digital security tool that provides individualized recommendations to help users protect their data and avoid online scams.

Here are some additional resources to help you stay safe and secure online: 

• Security Essentials Digital Security Checklist for Activists – This guide offers a comprehensive list of digital security measures for activists, including using encrypted messaging and managing location services.
• Online Harassment Field Manual – This manual from PEN America provides tools and resources for writers, journalists, and activists to defend themselves against online abuse and harassment.
• Social Media Security & Privacy Checklist – This open source New York Times guide walks through the recommended settings for each platform that will keep your accounts secure. Following these general recommendations will help protect your accounts from compromise or unintentional data exposure.
• Actionable Cybersecurity Tools (ACT) – This hub helps individuals and communities understand cybersecurity risks and find the right tools to protect themselves, their family, or their organization.

3. Mental health, coping, and self-care practices

Maintaining your mental health and engaging in self-care are essential in order to stay engaged in the movement to protect our democracy. We all must make time regularly to recharge in order to prevent burnout especially when things are the craziest and it seems impossible to step away even for 10 minutes. Start with this excellent short video breaking down the psychology of stress from researcher and best-selling author Robert M. Sapolsky. 

By managing the stress that comes with political participation, you can become more resilient and effective in shaping the democracy we aspire to. Here are some self-directed resources with tips for prioritizing your mental wellbeing. Again: These resources are not a substitute for professional medical and mental health care. 

• How to Check In with Yourself – This detailed video from Pamela Weiss offers concrete advice on how to step back and check in with yourself in times of stress. 
• The Anxiety and Depression Association of America has a variety of helpful resources including:
  • How to Stay Informed Without Losing Your Peace of Mind 
  • Breaking the Burnout Cycle: Practical Steps for Long-Term Well-Being 
  • Cultivating Well-Being 
• The American Psychological Association published an excellent article in October laying out how political concerns can negatively impact our mental and physical health and how engaging in concrete political action can help. 
• When Everything Feels Hostile: 6 Ways to Cope – Detailed resource from the Jed Foundation with concrete suggestions on how to deal when everything is too much (checklist included!). 
• Civic Engagement: How to Get Involved While Protecting Your Mental Health – Also from the Jed Foundation, this is a useful guide to finding balance. 
• Coping with Political Stress – This compilation of resources from the University of Arizona offers strategies for managing political stress, such as finding balance, practicing self-care, and having constructive conversations. 
• Happiness Calendar – Consider signing up for a monthly Happiness Calendar from UC Berkeley for a day-to-day guide to well being. 

4. Crisis response and professional support

If you require urgent legal, cybersecurity, physical security, and/or mental health services relating to your democratic engagement, these resources and organizations may be able to offer you critical support. 

• Psychological First Aid – These resources from Open Briefing focus on what to do in the immediate aftermath of an incident or crisis to reduce distress and foster coping behaviors (available in 10 languages). 
• Mental Health Care & Direct Services – Online Harassment Field Manual – This resource from PEN America provides concrete professional mental health support recommendations during times of political upheaval and online harassment. 
• Digital Security Helpline – This resource from Access Now is designed to support anyone who thinks they could be at risk of attack or is already under attack online. Services are available 24/7 in nine languages. 
• Pirth Individual Support – Pirth is committed to helping people stay safe online. For those specifically receiving threats and harassment via social media, Pirth can assist with rapid escalations to platforms to address dangerous or harmful content. 
• Expert Voices Together Crisis Response – This resource is specifically designed for journalists and researchers experiencing harassment and intimidation. Expert Voices Together can provide individualized crisis response support.

5. Long-Term Resilience and Hope

Autocrats intentionally use despair, fear, and isolation to dismantle our democratic institutions and deter the pro-democracy opposition from continuing to organize. They are able to further consolidate power when citizens lose hope and become apathetic. Maintaining long-term resilience and hope is crucial for democratic engagement because it allows you to persevere through political setbacks and disappointments without becoming cynical or disengaged. Here are some resources that can help you maintain hope during challenging political times.

• The Political Work and Experience of Hoping with Others by National Civic League  – This source encourages us to learn how to experience hope with others, in community, as an act of resistance. 
• How to cultivate hope in uncertain times – This resource from the American Psychological Association highlights key actions that cultivate hope – concrete manageable steps. 
• Eight Ways You Can Feel More Hopeful—Even in Dark Times – This article from UC Berkeley explores lessons from William Miller’s book 8 Ways to Hope with clear instructions on how to cultivate hope in your life. 
• The Science of Happiness – Consider adding this excellent podcast hosted by award-winning psychologist Dacher Keltner to your rotation. Or just drop in for critical episodes such as:
  • The Case for Hope With Rebecca Solnit
  • How to Feel More Hopeful (featuring poet Tomás Morín)
  • Happiness Break: Finding Yourself in Silence