Managing stress in humanitarian aid workers: A survey of humanitarian aid agencies' psychosocial training and support of staff.

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.