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Depression Often Affects Humanitarian Aid Workers

This population is also more likely to experience anxiety, a new study shows

Oct 2, 2012 09:51 GMT  ·  By
Humanitarian aid workers are more likely to become depressed or anxious
   Humanitarian aid workers are more likely to become depressed or anxious

According to a new study by investigators at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it would appear that people engaged in humanitarian aid actions are at higher risk of developing depression and anxiety than their peers.

The investigation was based on studying 212 international humanitarian workers, employed at 19 non-governmental organizations (NGO) around the world. Before they started working, 3.8 percent reported suffering from anxiety, while 10.4 percent suffered from depression.

After finishing their deployment to various regions in need of assistance, 11.8 percent symptoms characteristic to anxiety, while 19.5 percent said they were feeling depressed, PsychCentral reports.

Details of the new investigation were published in the latest online issue of the peer-review scientific journal PLOS ONE, which is edited by the Public Library of Science.