Reflections from the Lebanese field: “First, heal thyself”
Abstract Humanitarian aid workers caring for Syrian refugees face major stressors as they attend to refugees’ needs on the field. Without adequate psychosocial support, evidence has shown that fieldworkers experience high burnout and turnover as well as long-term poor mental health. Unfortunately, s...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2018-02-01
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| Series: | Conflict and Health |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13031-018-0144-2 |
| _version_ | 1811209568286408704 |
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| author | Zeina Chemali Hannah Smati Kelsey Johnson Christina P. C. Borba Gregory L. Fricchione |
| author_facet | Zeina Chemali Hannah Smati Kelsey Johnson Christina P. C. Borba Gregory L. Fricchione |
| author_sort | Zeina Chemali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Humanitarian aid workers caring for Syrian refugees face major stressors as they attend to refugees’ needs on the field. Without adequate psychosocial support, evidence has shown that fieldworkers experience high burnout and turnover as well as long-term poor mental health. Unfortunately, scarce training in this regard leaves them ill-equipped to care for themselves and practice resilience while handling trauma in the field. This paper highlights our reflection on working with mindfulness programs during humanitarian crises, specifically how our program, Stress Management and Relaxation Response Training (SMART), has helped over time fieldworkers and the community they cared for. We propose that programs targeting the wellbeing of fieldworkers should be prioritized as part of efforts to improve the international aid response although they may require impeccable coordination and generous resources. We encourage donors to fund those projects viewed as special social protection programs building resilience and strengthening within system support. We argue that this will increase the efficacy of the crisis intervention and work towards sustainable peace building. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:41:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e0a1b80161c94594a641c32482e1c887 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1752-1505 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:41:46Z |
| publishDate | 2018-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conflict and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-e0a1b80161c94594a641c32482e1c8872022-12-22T03:47:37ZengBMCConflict and Health1752-15052018-02-011211510.1186/s13031-018-0144-2Reflections from the Lebanese field: “First, heal thyself”Zeina Chemali0Hannah Smati1Kelsey Johnson2Christina P. C. Borba3Gregory L. Fricchione4The Chester M. Pierce, MD Division of Global Psychiatry, Massachusetts General HospitalThe Chester M. Pierce, MD Division of Global Psychiatry, Massachusetts General HospitalDepartment of Psychiatry, Boston Medical CenterDepartment of Psychiatry, Boston Medical CenterThe Chester M. Pierce, MD Division of Global Psychiatry, Massachusetts General HospitalAbstract Humanitarian aid workers caring for Syrian refugees face major stressors as they attend to refugees’ needs on the field. Without adequate psychosocial support, evidence has shown that fieldworkers experience high burnout and turnover as well as long-term poor mental health. Unfortunately, scarce training in this regard leaves them ill-equipped to care for themselves and practice resilience while handling trauma in the field. This paper highlights our reflection on working with mindfulness programs during humanitarian crises, specifically how our program, Stress Management and Relaxation Response Training (SMART), has helped over time fieldworkers and the community they cared for. We propose that programs targeting the wellbeing of fieldworkers should be prioritized as part of efforts to improve the international aid response although they may require impeccable coordination and generous resources. We encourage donors to fund those projects viewed as special social protection programs building resilience and strengthening within system support. We argue that this will increase the efficacy of the crisis intervention and work towards sustainable peace building.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13031-018-0144-2 |
| spellingShingle | Zeina Chemali Hannah Smati Kelsey Johnson Christina P. C. Borba Gregory L. Fricchione Reflections from the Lebanese field: “First, heal thyself” Conflict and Health |
| title | Reflections from the Lebanese field: “First, heal thyself” |
| title_full | Reflections from the Lebanese field: “First, heal thyself” |
| title_fullStr | Reflections from the Lebanese field: “First, heal thyself” |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reflections from the Lebanese field: “First, heal thyself” |
| title_short | Reflections from the Lebanese field: “First, heal thyself” |
| title_sort | reflections from the lebanese field first heal thyself |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13031-018-0144-2 |
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