Voices from the front line: Mental health and psychosocial experiences of Red Cross Red Crescent volunteers and staff working in armed conflict contexts

Abstract More than 17 million people volunteer and work in the Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement. 1 With more than 130 active armed conflicts in at least fifty countries, it can be estimated that at least 4 million RCRC volunteers and staff live and work in armed conflict settings; 2 most volunteers and staff work in their own countries, delivering essential humanitarian assistance to their communities. In 2025, twenty-seven RCRC volunteers and staff lost their lives in the line of duty, with additional fatalities occurring off-duty. 3 Extreme working conditions and constant exposure to suffering often cause long-term psychological consequences, and the mental health and psychosocial impacts occur in a wider context that can lead staff and volunteers to question their fundamental moral values. This qualitative study seeks to explore the mental health and psychosocial 4 experiences of national volunteers and staff by amplifying their voices and acknowledging the hardships that they go through. Through a lens of moral injury and trauma-informed approaches, the findings of the study shed light on the lived experiences of national staff and volunteers working and living in armed conflict contexts. Key themes that emerged from the study include a strong commitment to the RCRC Movement, exposure to harm, mental health impacts, and the need for support systems for staff and volunteers. These insights underscore the urgency of embedding trauma-informed approaches in Movement-wide policies and support systems to strengthen protection and well-being for staff and volunteers.