Inoculating Aid Workers Against Trauma and Stress (video)

Trauma directly affects large and growing segments of the US and global population, as well as the caregivers and human service workers who work with them.  Humanitarian aid and disaster relief workers work in dangerous conditions and cope with chronic stress, burnout and the constant exposure to others’ suffering, which can take a well-documented toll on their health and performance. These workers must prepare carefully for deployment into harsh environments — setting goals, getting vaccinations to build immunity against endemic diseases, etc. But how can they prepare themselves emotionally and mentally to face the trauma of disaster or conflict zones?