This report presents key insights from seven refugee-assisting organisations in Europe. As part of the Caring to Include project, it identifies challenges, good practices, and clear priorities for improving staff mental well-being and embedding trauma-informed approaches.
Key findings
The findings are based on surveys, interviews, and collaboration with experts, including people with lived experience as refugees. Based on extensive input from staff, volunteers, refugees, and experts, the report highlights urgent challenges and practical priorities in two core areas:
Staff well-being
Burnout is widespread due to i.a. high workloads, trauma exposure, organisational dynamics and hostile political contexts.
Priorities include:
- Organisational well-being strategies, including access to training.
- Improved managerial supervision and professional mental health support.
- Structural peer-to-peer support and access to external experts.
Trauma-informed approaches
Most organisations integrate some trauma-informed principles, but few do so systematically.
Priorities include:
- Integration of trauma-informed principles in guidelines and service-delivery;
- Strengthen capacity to recognise and respond to trauma;
- Involving people with lived experience in decision-making.
Read the full report
Comparative Report
(11.2 MB)
About the research
The report was compiled from seven NGOs in Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Malta, and the Netherlands. Our research consisted of:
- 82 refugees consulted.
- 105 staff and volunteers surveyed/interviewed.
- 53 external experts and associated partners consulted.
The findings lay the foundation for two practical toolkits (coming soon):
- One for staff and volunteer mental well-being.
- One for trauma-informed practices in refugee services.
Part of Caring to Include
Caring to Include is a three-year initiative that connects refugee-assisting NGOs across Europe to improve inclusion, resilience, and mental well-being through shared knowledge, training, and advocacy.
