Mental Health at Workplace for Humanitarian Aid workers

Journal of traumatic stress, 2012

This study examined the mental health of national humanitarian aid workers in northern Uganda and contextual and organizational factors predicting well-being. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 376 national staff working for 21 humanitarian aid agencies. Over 50% of workers experienced 5 or more categories of traumatic events. Although, in the absence of clinical interviews, no clinical diagnoses were able to be confirmed, 68%, 53%, and 26% of respondents reported symptom levels associated with high risk for depression, anxiety disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), respectively. Between one quarter and one half of respondents reported symptom levels associated with high risk regarding measured dimensions of burnout. Female workers reported significantly more symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and emotional exhaustion than males. Workers with the United Nations and related agencies reported fewest symptoms. Higher levels of social support, stronger team cohesion, and reduced exposure to chronic stressors were associated with improved mental health. National humanitarian staff members in Gulu have high exposure to chronic and traumatic stress and high risk of a range of poor mental health outcomes. Given that work-related factors appear to influence the relationship between the two strategies are suggested to support the well-being of national staff working in such contexts. Copyright © 2012 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

Europe’s Journal of Psychology

Set in challenging and complex environments, there has been growing concern about the mental health consequences of aid work. Along with existing difficulties in reducing well-known occupational risks such as exposure to trauma, there is a lack of awareness of psychosocial risks in the humanitarian sector. This paper is a discussion, drawing on occupational health perspectives, on ways to reflect on mental health policies, research and interventions in this sector.

Work Stress of Humanitarian Delegates, 2024

The stress humanitarian workers endure in today’s climate is unlike anything we have seen. Amid delivering aid and support for those in need, which is extremely difficult in and of itself, humanitarian workers must navigate the risky nature and ambiguity of modern warfare, the emotional burden of suffering, and the despair of loss. Above all, humanitarian workers often work under the conditions of unpredictable circumstances with personal risk. In an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) study, nearly 40% of staff were at risk for at least one mental health condition(2). As the demand for humanitarian aid workers continues to increase, we must understand the effect of global challenges and the increasing complexity of their job, which can in turn impact on performance and mental states. It is equally urgent to create innovative programs and work organizations that can ensure the safety and well-being of humanitarian delegates while delivering protection and humanitarian aid to the victims.

Epidemiologic Reviews, 2011

Humanitarian relief work is a growing field characterized by ongoing exposure to primary and secondary trauma, which has implications for workers' occupational mental health. This paper reviews and summarizes research to date on mental health effects of relief work. Twelve studies on relief workers and 5 studies on organizations that employ relief workers are examined to determine whether relief work is a risk factor for trauma-related mental illness. Although studies are inconsistent regarding methods and outcomes documenting trauma-related mental illness among relief workers, it appears that relief workers, compared with the general population, experience elevated trauma rates and suffer from more posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. Organizations that employ relief workers have varying approaches to train for these risks, and more support in the field is needed.

Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 2004

A survey of humanitarian aid organizations was conducted, addressing their practices with respect to mitigating and managing stress in their field staff. Only 17 of over 100 nongovernmental organizations contacted responded to the survey. Even among those that did respond, the limits on their investment in this area were evident. Few reported even the most perfunctory screening of potential staff with respect to risk factors for adverse responses to stress. Many failed to provide hands-on training with respect to stress management. Awareness of the role of bureaucratic and organizational actions in reducing stress was limited. Concrete preparation of staff for returning home was all but absent. Implications both of the responses and the lack of responsiveness to the survey are discussed. Humanitarian aid workers are exposed to a variety of stressors. The sources of stress described by many humanitarian aid workers include • physically demanding and unpleasant working conditions; • excessive workload, long hours, and chronic fatigue;

PLOS ONE, 2018

Background The latest data on major attacks against civilian aid operations have identified South Sudan as the most dangerous country for aid workers globally. Exposure to other traumatic events and chronic stress is also common in this population. No research exists on the mental health of humanitarian workers in South Sudan. Objectives This study examined symptom burden and predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, hazardous alcohol consumption, and burnout among humanitarian workers in South Sudan.

Support initiatives to build a more comprehensive research infrastructure in LMICs. This may include funding the establishment of local training programs, research centers, or data collection systems. Adapt research methods to address challenges in LMICs in international development and humanitarian contexts. o Use community-based participatory methods, working closely with local communities to co-create and implement research questions, designs, and methods. o Support local mental health researchers to lead mental health intervention and efficacy trials. Invest in dissemination and implementation research that addresses the unique challenges, barriers, and facilitators of delivering mental health services within LMICs.

Disasters, 2020

This study examines fifteen possible risk and protective factors for aid worker mental health under the categories of job context, work conditions and demographics. Many of these factors have not been examined previously. We use a cross-sectional survey with 369 participants in 77 countries. Results indicate job context risk factors include emergency postings and being an international worker. There were no significant differences between humanitarian and development workers, none between organisation types, and the number of past traumas was not associated with negative mental health outcomes. Protective work conditions included higher income, long-term contracts, past-psycho-social trainings and voluntary postings. Demographic protective factors included older age, more work experience, and higher religiosity and spirituality, while female gender was a risk factor. This study provides a more nuanced understanding of mental health in the sector, which can inform the development of more targeted supports for the mental health of aid workers.

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 2020

ABSTRACTWhen a complex emergency (CE) overwhelms infrastructure, the ability of health-care providers to work efficiently under duress saves lives. The author uses her experience of providing mental health supports to humanitarian aid workers and the pieces of training conducted for internal medicine practitioners to offer guidance on how to manage severe job-related stresses during the response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This work reminds responders about their professional mission and purpose, but its extreme physical and mental demands can take a toll on their well-being and health. In CEs, the sheer volume of work and the emotional over-engagement tend to produce toxic fantasies (eg, rescuer or helper fantasies), acting upon which threatens integrity of care and increases risks for both patients and providers. Accumulated fatigue and exposure to mass suffering and mortality can change the perceived value of life and increase reckless, risk-taking, and s...

PLoS Medicine, 2011