The process of returning home is an often overlooked challenge for humanitarian workers. "Home" implies a familiar place where one finds a shared culture and language, established routines and systems of support. However, returning after an overseas assignment may involve living in a new place, or returning to the same location only to find it has changed over time. Likewise, it is not just the worker who has changed; friends and family have changed as well. The challenge of finding or starting a new job, finding a place to live or re-establishing residency, rekindling relationships or building new ones—in addition to all the other major and minor details of moving from one place to another—can be overwhelming. Many of the physical and emotional responses experienced during pre-deployment and the initial stages of adjustment in the overseas culture are confronted again on returning home, a response often referred to as reverse culture shock. And because this culture shock is often unanticipated, the worker may be ill-prepared to deal with the challenges.
Research confirms what anecdotal evidence tells us—humanitarian workers often experience substantial stress upon re-entry. Many describe the process as difficult, some return with symptoms of significant stress, and others experience symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Materialism, waste, indifference of fellow citizens, reorientation to the culture and lifestyle, and a feeling of not belonging are a few of most commonly cited re-entry challenges. However, some of the effects of re-entry and subsequent stress can be mitigated through planning and preparation prior to returning home, and support after arriving home.
The greatest strength of any organization is its people—the staff and volunteers are key to carrying out any mission. This is true before the overseas assignment, during the assignment, and—just as importantly—after the assignment. Re-entry is a major life transition, in particular when it comes after an intense overseas experience. Helping to prepare workers for re-entry, and supporting them during the process, is an essential practice for all organizations. Managers can play an important role in helping workers anticipate challenges and develop strategies for managing the re-entry process, providing resources and tools, and supporting workers throughout the process.
Many humanitarian aid organizations recognize the need for a well developed program to support their returning staff after a field assignment. This section highlights some useful practices and resources you can use to assist your staff through the process of re-entry.
Staff should be reminded of easy ways to care for themselves once they've left the field. Consider distributing this simple, brief set of reminders to your staff who are completing a project. Courtesy of Catholic Relief Services.
It's important to support your staff in taking care of their health not only during critical events, but every day during their tenure. In addition, it's important to offer them ways of taking care of themselves upon re-entry. This brief guide offers simple ways of caring for one's physical and mental health; how to recognize normal symptoms of critical incident stress; and ways to decompress once the assignment is complete.
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 this includes supporting them when they leave their assignment to return home.
This article offers suggestion for development of a stable and experienced workforce by developing and using more enlightened organizational policies. The author makes recommendations for best practices, notably calling for a consensus on how best to prepare with returning staff for their transition home, as well encouraging managers to pursue a psychosocial follow up with departing staff to see how they are doing once they leave the assignment.
The UN's booklet deals with how to recognize stress and trauma, and includes a self-test assessment. On pages 15-16 you can review how to recognize symptoms of post-mission stress and suggestions for recovery and stabilization. This is good information to share with staff before they leave, so that they may prepare themselves for possible symptoms of post-mission stress.
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