Tag Archives: aid workers’ burnout
Burnout and Meaning
The psychologist Viktor Frankl survived Auschwitz and came out as an inspiring individual from that horrendous experience. His extraordinary quality came from his connection to some profound existential meaning in his life. Meaning is what makes things possible and beautiful, and … Continue reading
Staff Care: Economic? Legal? Ethical?
Impressions from the People in Aid 2012 HHR Conference June 15, 2012 Following 8 months in Palestine and an intense and very interesting Humanitarian HR Conference in Amsterdam, I’m now back in Oxford. Everything is so quiet here. I understand … Continue reading
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Tagged aid workers' burnout, aid workers' mental health, aid workers' wellbeing, organizational culture in aid
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Cynicism and burnout
While attending on a photo-shoot in London with a group of amateur photographers, I met a woman in her 30s who had been involved in humanitarian work for a number of years. As we chatted over lunch about the challenges … Continue reading
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Tagged aid workers' burnout, organizational culture in aid
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Breaking News! Aid Workers Burnout!
I just landed in the beautiful and crazy land of Israel and Palestine, home of hundreds of NGOs and IGOs, and hot from the press a longitudinal study confirms that aid workers are affected by high levels of psychological distress, depression, anxiety, … Continue reading
On compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma & burnout
Recently, I participated in an amazing training to become a domestic violence advocate for immigrant women in the D.C. area. One area which we focused on was burnout, compassion fatigue, and self-care. Continue reading
Burnout: The Exhaustion Funnel
Many frontline professionals and volunteers burnout without knowing it. There’s an urge to keep going, and a sense that our personal well-being and good mental health are not worth looking after. Let me tell you why this is plain wrong and short-sighted. Continue reading
PTSD is not the problem. Burnout is.
I remain convinced that if we want to change how aid works, we need to change ourselves. Psychological awareness becomes a tool for social and political awareness, but before we get there we need to find ways to manage stress and avoid getting to a place of burnout. Continue reading
Are you a boiled frog? Burnout and Awareness
The Story of the Boiled Frog and some thoughts on burnout
During a recent visit in Italy for some rest to prevent my own burnout, a good friend gave me a little book called ‘Invaluable Lessons from a Frog: Seven Life-Enhancing Metaphors’ by Oliver Clerc. I find the metaphor of the boiled frog contained in the book particularly fitting when it comes to giving us a vivid picture of how burnout wears people down.
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On Supporting Staff – My Interview with People in Aid
Staff care is way more than just counselling or stress management. Here’s my take. Interview with Alessandra Pigni by People In Aid, July 2012. Continue reading
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Tagged aid workers' burnout, organizational culture in aid
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