A Review of Mental Health in Humanitarian Workers in South Sudan. What Does Mental Health and Wellbeing Mean to Humanitarians’ Workers, and Can Humanitarian Organisations Better Support Their Staff?
Abstract
A review of mental health in humanitarian workers in South Sudan. What does mental health and wellbeing mean to humanitarians’ workers, and can humanitarian organisations better support their staff?Dissertation directed by Andrew Rasmussen, Ph.D.Humanitarian work is stressful business, often it involves emergency situations and dealing with traumatic events and chronic stress that can take its toll on those who work in this field. South Sudan is considered one of the most dangerous countries for humanitarians to work with a long history of conflict and violence. There is little research that exists of the topic of mental health in humanitarian workers in this context.This study reviewed the mental health perceptions of humanitarian workers in South Sudan, what is currently in place and what they suggested could be done better.An interview process was conducted using five questions that were used to answer the broader question. Using a qualitative thematic analysis these questions were compared and reviewed with similar research on this subject.Ten participants from a large international humanitarian organisation were interviewed, all of whom are currently living and working in South Sudan. The answers from the participants were in line with comparable research.The results of this research suggest that humanitarian workers in South Sudan experience significant work-related stress which effects their mental health. Although the organisation for whom they work are committed to improving staff mental health and supporting their employees there is still much to be done to improve and more study needed to determine how this can be done better.
Subject Area
Mental health|Occupational psychology
Recommended Citation
O'Connor, Erin, "A Review of Mental Health in Humanitarian Workers in South Sudan. What Does Mental Health and Wellbeing Mean to Humanitarians’ Workers, and Can Humanitarian Organisations Better Support Their Staff?" (2023). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI30817285.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI30817285
