Helping the Helpers

As floodwaters 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 may seem to be invulnerable to fatigue, stress, frustration, and depression. Perhaps the demand is so great they think they can “muster” through. But helpers need help, too.

The Long Race

When will recovery begin and when will intense commitments end? This uncertainty creates anxiety for both volunteer and professional helpers. Crisis produces a wide range of stress symptoms among helpers that can appear immediately, in a few hours, or within days of the event. Disaster helpers may experience:

• Poor concentration

• Memory problems

• Poor attention span

• Disrupted work-sleep-eating patterns

•Withdrawal

• Loss of emotional control

• Fear

• Guilt

• Anger

• Grief

• Depression

Elizabeth O’Halloran, Canadian Red Cross Nurse says, “It’s important that we’re not isolated. It’s easy to stay at our stations (during the disaster) from morning to night and never leave. I have had to force myself to remember to eat and to rest at night.” O’Halloran, a professional helper who staffs disaster centers, says that helpers can have difficulty keeping track of days and events, and that they often have a need to enforce structure and to “see normal life outside the disaster.”

Helpers Can Help Themselves

Helpers need to take care of themselves. But that can be difficult for those who really enjoy what they are doing. Here are basic principles to help yourself stay in the race:

• Learn to say no without feeling guilty.

• Take time for pleasure.

• Change your environment; take short breaks.

• Seek normality.

• Realize when a situation or problem should be referred to another helper.

• Be aware of your energy limits; stop when these limits have been reached.

• Prioritize your time.

• Know your strengths and weaknesses.

• Communicate with people who understand your endeavor.

• Practice “optimism” and “humor.”

We Can Help the Helpers

Volunteer and professional helpers can use help from people not directly affected by crisis. “Community spirit and caring helps (helpers),” says O’Halloran. Connection to others and appreciation are important. Here are specific ways to help helpers:

• Help with everyday tasks.

• Invite the helpers to talk about their experiences.

• Help the helper accept help; offer something specific instead of “call me if you need anything”.

• Do not rush helpers; their sense of time may be distorted.

• Reassure them that their stress is normal; most people recover well from stress.

• When requested, provide information about the “world outside the disaster.”

• Respect their privacy.

• Encourage sensible health habits.

• Repeatedly show appreciation for the helper’s work.

To help communities recover after disaster, the load must be shared.

Adapted by Wayne Matthews, Human Development Specialist, NC State University, from materials developed by the Kansas Cooperative Extension Service, Kansas State University
6/00—JMG