Kansas As flood waters recede, hundreds of people will still be on the front lines of disaster. Those people are the professional and volunteer helpers. The emotional needs of those who help others are often forgotten during crisis. They may not consider their own needs.
Helpers seem to be invulnerable to fatigue, stress, frustration and depression.
But helpers need help, too. After setting up a retreat center for youths who had been displaced due to flood waters, Smith voluntarily supervised the retreat. Twelve- hour days included work with children, families and other disaster relief workers. The uncertainty of when recovery will begin and when intense commitments will end creates anxiety for both volunteer and professional helpers. Crisis produces a wide range of stress symptoms among helpers which can appear immediately, in a few hours or within days of the event.