Being a humanitarian worker can be very rewarding, but the work can also be quite tough. Church World Service recognizes that their staff members are their single most valuable resource. These web pages were designed to help you deal with the stress that you may encounter during the course of your work by:
- Providing an introduction to some of the stressors associated with working in the humanitarian field
- Defining stress and trauma
- Identifying signs and symptoms of stress and trauma
- Providing information on what to do after you experience a traumatic event
- Offering some helpful tips for managing cumulative stress levels
- Offering links and online resources to learn more
Follow the links above to find out more…
Voices from the frontlines 1…
“
The work was emotionally charged, but I discovered that I was able to put
my head to the pillow at night each night knowing that things I had done
had made a difference to people’s lives…” (Sashi Tharoor,
UNHCR)
“Humanitarian workers living in countries in crisis and conflict are subjected to a great deal of stress. They deny themselves the right to feel tired and exhausted, and at times they are at the limits of their capabilities without realizing it. The stress manifests itself in different ways…” (Paul Ares, World Food Program)
“I can’t emphasize enough the huge degree to which the things I have seen, and the people I have photographed and formed relationships with, have shaped my life. They have affected every aspect of my existence. There have been times of great joy and times of incalculable desperation; but both have been vital to me…” (Gary Knight, photographer)
- All quoted in Danieli (2002). Full reference on the links and resources page.