[Volunteers in Refugee Help: is Health Promotion (by Public Health Services) Necessary?]

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology
• Volunteer Studies

Background:

• Refugee assistance relies heavily on volunteers.
• Understanding volunteer experiences is crucial for sustainable support systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the health-related strains and resources experienced by volunteers engaged in refugee aid.
• To identify factors contributing to volunteer well-being and stress.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 volunteers in refugee aid and 11 experts in coordinative roles.
• Data were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Main Results:

• Volunteers perceive their work as a significant resource, deriving enrichment, enhanced self-worth, and appreciation.
• Key stressors include difficulties in establishing appropriate boundaries concerning time commitment and emotional involvement.
• Volunteers experience both positive reinforcement and significant health-related strains.

Conclusions:

• Optimizing and expanding support systems for volunteers in refugee aid is essential to mitigate health strains.
• Public Health Services are well-positioned to play a key role in developing and implementing these support improvements.