Tools for Assessing Stress

Are you stressed? Stress assessment tools can be found here. These scales are taken from the Stress and Trauma Handbook, World Vision which can be purchased in its entirety.

UN Stress Management Booklet, United Nations  
This booklet deals with how to recognize stress and trauma, and includes a self-test assessment. The booklet also includes a lesson recognizing symptoms of post-mission stress and suggestions for recovery and stabilization.

Stress Management in Disasters, Pan American Health Organization 
This workbook is meant to accompany the "Insights into the Concept of Stress" workbook (listed above) and focuses on dealing with stress in disasters and traumatic situations.

Insights into the Concept of Stress, Pan American Health Organization  
This is a workbook that walks the reader through a course aimed at helping aid workers identify and understand stress.


Tools for Reducing Stress

Audio clips of relaxation exercises are available at:
Kansas State University's Biofeedback Training Center
University of Texas's Counseling and Mental Health Center
Best of Health
Georgia Southern University's Counseling and Career Development Center


Staff Self-Care Learning Center: Humanitarian Work, Stress, and Trauma, Church World Services 
This series of webpages helps an aid worker to recognize and manage stress, and discusses what to do in stressful situations.

CARE International Security and Safety Handbook, CARE
CARE's security and safety manual assembles the best available information on how to work safely in today's humanitarian environment, and discusses policies, assessments, planning, and fundamental safety and security procedures. Chapter 7 is devoted to discussing the sources of stress, stress indicators, and ways to prevent stress.

Managing Stress in The Field, IFRC
This leaflet is designed as a practical tool for delegates before, during and after their mission. Its aim is to help them to recognize, prevent and reduce stress in the field.


More Information About Stress and Stress Management

Stress in Everyday Life in the Field, Center for Humanitarian Psychology
An info sheet on the various types of stresses humanitarian aid workers may encounter and tools to help you cope.

International Critical Incident Stress Foundation.
Current information is provided on this website about security in particular regions.
The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc. (ICISF) is a non-profit, open membership foundation dedicated to the prevention and mitigation of disabling stress through the provision of: Education, training and support services for all Emergency Services professions; Continuing education and training in Emergency Mental Health Services for Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Social Workers and Licensed Professional Counselors; and Consultation in the establishment of Crisis and Disaster Response Programs for varied organizations and communities worldwide.

Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief Personnel: Learning Center, Headington Institute
This learning center was established to provide valuable resources on psychological and spiritual support for humanitarian aid and disaster relief personnel worldwide, as well as links to additional resources.

A number of articles have recently been written on this subject. A few of them are listed here:
Aid Workers Too, Suffering Post Traumatic Stress, National Geographic News
Aid workers in Iraq, Afghanistan try to withstand stress from burnout, violence, Chicago Tribune
Managers Must Help Aid Staff Cope With Stress, AlertNet

Aid Workers Network 
This section of the site provides a guide to recognizing and meeting common physical and emotional problems encountered during disaster relief activities.

Stress and Trauma Handbook, World Vision 
This link provides a review and option to purchase John Fawcett's "Stress and Trauma Handbook." The book addresses how stress impacts human functioning, the signs of burn-out, steps that can be taken to reduce the effect of stress and strain, and this research affects the practicalities of everyday humanitarian work. Using real stories, a series of check-lists, stress indicators, and burn-out monitors, this book aims to help aid-workers track their well being. The focus is on finding a way to grow and thrive in these circumstances while continuing to work, build strong relationships and be proactive in life.

The Humanitarian Companion 
Chapter 4 discusses the causes and consequences of stress for field staff and lays out a strategy for reducing stress. The Resources section contains scripts for relaxation exercises.
Ehrenreich, J. (2004). The Humanitarian Companion. London: ITDG Publishing

Sharing the Front Line and the Back Hills: Peacekeepers, Humanitarian Aid Workers, and the Media in the Midst of Crisis, Member Care 
The book starts off with a helpful Forward by Kofi Annan, the General-Secretary of the United Nations. This is followed by 36 chapters on stress factors for peacekeepers, aid workers, and media personnel. There are some excellent research studies and reviews on stress among the military as well as among aid workers. And there are also some chapters on organizational approaches to stress reduction, human resource development, and in general, what life is really like for those who cross cultural boundaries to serve fellow human beings in need.