From staff burnout to human security: Stress governance in humanitarian systems

Abstract

Humanitarian organizations operate in environments characterized by chronic insecurity, moral complexity, and increasing operational constraints. While stress among humanitarian personnel has traditionally been framed as an individual psychological issue, emerging evidence suggests that stress is structurally embedded within organizational systems. Building on prior analysis of humanitarian delegate stress, this article advances the concept of stress governance as a critical dimension of human security. Drawing on institutional practices of the International Committee of the Red Cross, including staff health management frameworks and specialized trauma interventions, as well as comparative insights from Médecins Sans Frontières and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the article develops an integrated model linking structural stressors, organizational design, and policy responses into a coherent framework of stress governance. The article argues that unmanaged staff stress constitutes a systemic risk not only to organizational effectiveness but also to the protection of vulnerable populations. It concludes by outlining policy implications for humanitarian organizations, donors, and governance frameworks, emphasizing the need to embed stress management within broader human security strategies.

Keywords

Stress / Humanitarian work / Governance / Stress governance / Human security / Psychological health / Mental well-being

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