Transition period
At the end of your mission, it is strongly advised to allow yourself recovery time before resuming any professional activity. It is preferable not to immediately take on a new job.
A routine medical check-up is not necessary if you are in good health and have no specific medical needs. However, if you experience persistent symptoms, or if you were frequently ill during your mission, it is advisable to consult your general practitioner. They can, if necessary, refer you to a specialist, prescribe further tests, or ensure appropriate medical follow-up.
If you return with a health issue
If you leave your mission with a health condition requiring follow-up, this must be formally declared and in all cases, the Staff Health Unit (SHU) must be informed promptly to ensure appropriate support and if necessary notify the administration, particularly in connection with contractual obligations.
Returning Home After a Mission
Coming home after a mission can be just as challenging as preparing to leave for one. Returning often involves a period of readjustment as you reconnect with your home environment, relationships, and daily routines.
Giving yourself time, patience, and care during this transition can make a big difference.
Common Sources of Stress After a Mission
It is normal to experience some challenges when returning home. These may include:
- Physical and emotional exhaustion from the demands of the mission.
- Reactions that may feel unusual or unexpected, such as:
- Being easily startled by noises
- Feeling constantly alert or watchful
- Difficulty sleeping
- Vivid or unusual dreams
- Wanting to spend more time alone
- Reverse culture shock or feeling disconnected from life at home.
- Adjusting to a different pace of life between the mission and home.
- Feeling out of sync with family, friends, or your community.
- Feelings of loneliness or isolation.
- Finding housing or settling back into your living situation.
- Managing administrative tasks such as healthcare, insurance, taxes, or unemployment procedures.
- Uncertainty about future missions, career plans, or personal life decisions.
- Coping with health concerns that may arise during or after the mission.
- Financial pressures or concerns.
- Adapting to changes that have taken place at home while you were away.
There is no single "right" way to adjust after a mission. Everyone's experience is different. Any discomfort, confusion, or mixed emotions you may feel during the first weeks or months after returning are often a normal part of the transition.
Be kind to yourself. Pay attention to what you need, and allow yourself the time and space to readjust in your own way.
Debriefing with Staff Health psychologist
At the end of your assignment, you will be invited to a debriefing with a Staff Health psychologist or an external psychologist working with MSF.
This conversation is an opportunity to:
- Reflect on your mission experience.
- Discuss the main challenges you faced and how you managed them.
- Explore ways to strengthen your wellbeing and stress management skills.
- Share feedback that may help improve support and wellbeing initiatives for all staff, including locally hired colleagues.
You may also wish to discuss difficult experiences you encountered during the mission. This could include being directly exposed to a traumatic event or supporting someone who experienced one. Sometimes these experiences can continue to affect us after we return home, and talking about them can be an important part of processing what happened.
These conversations are confidential. Personal information shared during the debriefing will not be shared with other departments without your consent.
If you have any concerns about your mental health or emotional wellbeing, the debriefing provides a safe and supportive space to discuss them.
Thinking About Your Next Mission?
It is common to start thinking about another mission soon after returning home. However, it is important to give yourself time to rest, recover, and reconnect with your life outside of work.
Before taking on a new mission, consider whether you have had enough time to process your previous experience. Reflect on what you learned, the challenges you faced, and the strengths and coping strategies that helped you along the way.
Taking time to understand and learn from your experience can help you move forward with confidence, both in future missions and in your personal life.