How to improve organisational staff support? Suggestions from humanitarian workers in South Sudan (original) (raw)
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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.
Stress, mental health, and burnout in national humanitarian aid workers in Gulu, northern Uganda
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.
Humanitarian Aid Workers' Perceptions of Stress Management Services
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Humanitarian Aid Workers’ Perceptions of Stress Management Services by Annette Hearns MSc, University of Ulster, 2006 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Psychology Walden University January 2017 Abstract Humanitarian aid workers live and work in harsh circumstances far from loved ones and support mechanisms. The problem is that international aid must continue to work effectively despite stress levels. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand how aid workers perceive their work-related stressors, examine their subsequent experiences of in-house stress management services, and describe the factors that influence aid workers’ decisions to access in-house stress management services. The conservation of resources theory was used to understand aid workers experience of stress. A purposive sampling technique was used to identify 12 aid workers with a minimum of 5 years of field experience. Data were c...
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There is a paucity of research on the subjective stress-related experiences of humanitarian aid workers. Most evaluations of stress among these individuals focus on trauma and related conditions or adopt a quantitative approach. This interview-based study explored how 58 humanitarian aid workers employed by a United Nations-aligned organisation perceived the transactional stress process. The thematic analysis revealed eight main topics of interest: an emergency culture was found where most employees felt compelled to offer an immediate response to humanitarian needs; employees identified strongly with humanitarian goals and reported a high level of engagement; the rewards of humanitarian work were perceived as motivating and meaningful; constant change and urgent demands resulted in work overload; and managing work-life boundaries and receiving positive support from colleagues and managers helped to buffer perceived stress, work overload, and negative health outcomes. The practical ...
EAWOP - European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology, 2023
It is because of the survivors of natural disaster, war, homelessness, internal displacement and/or famine that aid work exists, and it is implicitly worthwhile. In comparison to the general population aid workers (AW) experience high levels of burnout and traumatic stress. Traditionally, AW have been held responsible for their own well-being, as self-care is believed to be the primary mode of protection against the stress of humanitarian work. More recently, the psychological safety climate of aid organizations has been recognized as being fundamental for the welfare of aid workers. Therefore, aid organizations, whatever the capacity or role, have a pivotal role in mediating the stress of aid workers. This paper is shared to encourage psychologists to research and embrace careers in the aid sector, as despite its challenges the work can be rewarding. While not intending to be exhaustive of all facets of AW, the presented model illustrates some of the triumphs and struggles AW face. The Aid Organizations’ Stress Prevention and Intervention (AOSPI) model, was forged by gathering empirical evidence and existing best practice. The model provides a template for understanding the complexity of supporting AW at all levels. The AOSPI model is meant to be adapted, developed, changed and moved along the spectrum of needs across diverse aid organizations with the goal of supporting aid worker and aid work as a whole.
Risk and Protective Factors for Aid Worker Mental Health- Tarli Young
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.