May 12, 2021
By Marie Oldfield CStat CSci
As a data scientist, statistician or analyst you can be asked to look at any type of data. It might be thought that data is data. However, some data can be difficult to process both mentally and physically. I have worked on some very difficult datasets within the Government and NATO. The worst data sets, for me personally, involved rape, sexual abuse, and vaporising enemies with weaponry.
As Analysts, we can underestimate what this can do to our mental health. It can be extremely difficult when we are faced with the extremely difficult details and context recorded within these data sets.
I like to think that, despite my discomfort, I am ultimately helping in some way with the abuse data. This report was to go straight to Downing Street for fast Media Response, However, I have not been able to reconcile vaporising people with myself yet, whether they are a perceived ‘enemy’ or not.
Speaking with a junior colleague in the last few weeks I’ve made a point to highlight the difficulties around these data sets and to encourage them to ask for help if they need it. I think this is important because, as a Teacher, I was once put in charge of potentially abused young girls who cut themselves severely and I was given no training or support. Therefore, I can empathise with anyone working with difficult data or circumstances and I know firsthand know how things like this can play on your mind. It doesn’t help that the kids I used to work with were, at the time, highlighted to be experiencing abuse such as is detailed within the abuse datasets I am just finishing with. It does bring it all back home over a decade later.
What is the worst data set you have had and do you feel able to access support should you need it?