THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY AUGUST 2024 27 Many also described a delayed processing of stress, where the full effect of traumatic events isn’t felt until later. This can lead to emotional distress and cognitive or physical impairments, which contribute to unhealthy coping mechanisms. “Unaddressed stress can manifest in many ways that have the potential to affect employees’ personal and professional lives,” USAID Staff Care Director Tarshia Freeman told us in March. “The combination of unaddressed stress, increased work demands, and work conflict may all contribute to the overall mental health and well-being of staff. It is imperative that individuals adapt healthy coping strategies to help combat burnout, mental health risk, and chronic health issues.” Changing Attitudes In recent years, we have seen a shift in the overall view of mental health, in part due to younger generations normalizing discussions about mental well-being and challenging long-held stigmas. The increase in mental health awareness includes an understanding of the problem, support for those dealing with mental health issues, and appreciation of mental health as a critical part of well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified the demand for balancing personal and professional interests and mental health support. Additional factors specific to the Foreign Service, such as the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, the conflict in Ukraine, and the Israel-Gaza war, have also increased PTSD diagnoses and elevated awareness of the need for mental health support. Additionally, moral injury—psychological distress stemming from actions or inactions conflicting with one’s moral code—is another challenge gaining increased attention. Forty-three percent of AFSA/Staff Care survey respondents reported having sought counseling, demonstrating a high need and suggesting a changing attitude toward seeking support. The number of counseling clients served by USAID Staff Care rose from 307 in Fiscal Year 2013, the first full year of Staff Care, to 626 during FY21 amid COVID-19, when Staff Care counselors recorded the highest-ever number of clients. USAID Staff Care served 516 counseling clients in FY23; so far, numbers are level in FY24. As FS employee demographics continue to change, there is a growing awareness of the specific and unique mental health considerations for the increasing numbers of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), multicultural families, LGBTQ+ individuals, and singles serving overseas. BIPOC FS employees often navigate diplomatic assignments abroad while confronting systemic racism, cultural differences, and identity-related stressors. LGBTQ+ employees face challenges related to acceptance and safety in countries with varying attitudes about gender and sexual orientation. Single FS personnel can experience feelings of isolation and loneliness as they struggle to form connections at post. Some FS employees report feeling that they lack sufficient support from agency leadership. Recurring themes in the AFSA/ Staff Care survey included discrimination, racial insensitivity and tensions, sexual harassment, and gender discrimination. USAID’s perceived unwillingness to hold offenders accountable further distressed and demoralized some survey respondents. “Corridor reputation,” an unofficial term used in diplomatic circles to describe an employee’s character, qualities, and interactions based on informal colleague observations, remains a concern. FS employees may fear that acknowledging mental health challenges—or pushing for a healthier work-life balance—could tarnish their reputations within the tight-knit community of diplomats and thus jeopardize career advancement. FS employees also express concern that seeking mental health therapy might affect their security and medical clearances. “Unfortunately, mental health stigma is a common concern that many individuals may fear due to unknown reactions or perceptions of others,” says Staff Care Director Freeman. “Hesitation to seek help may exacerbate the very issues they seek to address.” Getting Support: A Holistic View The USAID Staff Care program employs a strengths-based approach, placing mental health within a positive framework that emphasizes resilience, adaptability, and coping strategies rather than focusing on mental health as an illness. This holistic perspective recognizes that well-being extends beyond the individual to include work-life balance, social support networks, and organizational culture. Staff Care provides a range of programs, services, and resources designed to bolster the well-being and work-life balance of USAID’s entire workforce, regardless of hiring mechanism—in the workplace, at home, and in the community—and Staff Care services are available to all family members. Proactively promoting resilience among FS employees involves AFSA teamed with USAID Staff Care to survey USAID members, exploring their current views on stress and mental health.
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