Country Profile Information Sheet
Experience has shown that staff have an easier time adapting to a new assignment when they are presented with a realistic set of expectations for their new work and living situation. This sample fact sheet, courtesy of Catholic Relief Services, serves as a guideline for covering the most important information that you need to share with your staff before you send them on their way.

Securing the Safety of Aid Staff, Oneworld.net
This article examines the risks of aid work that stretch from terrorism to those less obvious but more common: stress, overwork and "burn-out", through to disease, accidents and even loneliness or depression while tackling a crisis a long way from home. Rising pressures on staff have prompted a growing number of aid agencies to share information, set standards and take practical steps to ensure that the training, support and management they offer will keep workers safe so they can deliver the best results.

Room for Improvement: Management and Support of Relief and Development Workers, Relief and Rehabilitation Network
This report describes the findings and recommendations resulting from an investigation into the support and management provided to workers in relief and development. Methods included a survey of 200 returned workers and discussions with employing agencies.

Stress Creates Walking Wounded, Reuters - Alertnet
Claire Colliard is founder and executive director of the Center for Humanitarian Psychology, a Geneva-based NGO offering psychological support to humanitarian staff. As a former clinical psychologist, she argues that agencies have the responsibility to do what they can to prevent staff being overwhelmed by stress and overwork, through providing good access to information and communications channels.

The psychological health of relief workers: some practical suggestions, Humanitarian Practice Network
Humanitarian emergencies today expose individuals and organizations to new dilemmas and new challenges. Staff turnover is high and burnout is common. This document offers suggestion for development of a stable and experienced workforce whose energies are effectively harnessed through more enlightened organizational policies. When seen in this light, the psychological support of relief workers is simply part of the employer's duty and responsibility - it is not an optional extra.

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

Insights into the Concept of Stress, Pan American Health Organization
If you're interested in a more interactive approach to understanding stress, check out this resource. Insights into the Concept of Stress is a workbook that walks the reader through a course aimed at helping aid workers identify and understand stress.

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 particularly in disasters and traumatic situations.

Personal Health and Critical Incident Stress, Aid Workers Network
This section of the Aidworkers Network website provides a guide to recognizing and meeting common physical and emotional problems encountered during disaster relief activities. Experience has shown that promoting and maintaining good health, especially by coping with the stresses encountered overseas, are the keys to successful performance.

International Incident Reports, Center for International Disaster Information
Current information is provided on this website about security in particular regions.

Sojourners to Another Country: the Psychological Roller-Coaster of Cultural Transitions, Dr. Nan Sussman
Cross-Cultural Psychologists refer to temporary visitors to another country as cultural sojourners. This article explores exactly what that means, why psychologists would care, and what's involved in the "sojourner" cycle - from the time you are getting ready to leave, to the time you are getting ready to come home.

Center for Humanitarian Psychology Information Sheets
This link will bring you to a list of brief but thorough information sheets on topics including Resilience, Traumatic and Cumulative Stress, Tools to Cope with Stress, Depression, Compassion Fatigue, and Coping Mechanisms.

Risks Associated with the Psychological Adjustment of Humanitarian Aid Workers, The Australasian Journal of Disaster and Trauma Studies
This article from Colleen McFarlane discusses risk factors that affect the way an international worker may react to trauma and survive it. Eleven specific areas of risk are explored.

International Incident Reports, Center for International Disaster Information
Current information is provided on this website about security in particular regions.