Red Cross is experienced in counseling staff and volunteers on assignments, defusing tense situations as they arise, and debriefing personnel on departure, individually or in groups, debriefing being a process that enables service providers to review their emotional reactions with a professional to gain awareness, obtain perspective, prepare for a return home and selectively be referred for on-going help. These are routine functions at big disasters. Mental health workers were both providers and recipients of these services. The most helpful activity was discussing their feelings, with debriefers, on-site colleagues, supervisors, family members or friends. In addition to benefits of ventilating, one can receive reassurance about the universality of the reactions and affirm one's self-worth by choosing to speak to people who will acknowledge and appreciate one's accomplishments.
Recognition is important.
Sleeping enough, eating properly and using personal stress management techniques are imperative. Humor can be a good stress-reliever. In addition to what individuals can do to help themselves, organizations have responsibilities to help staff diminish or at least better handle stress. Red Cross has some supports which can serve as prototypes for other settings. Some start well before a disaster, such as recruitment standards that ensure adequately trained personnel, an obvious prerequisite for performance that warrants a good sense of accomplishment.