Understanding Mental Health & Wellbeing in Ranger Roles
What is Mental Health and Wellbeing?
Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It influences how we think, feel, and act in our daily lives, and it also affects how we handle stress, relate to others, and make decisions.
Just like physical health, mental health is an essential part of our overall well-being. It can fluctuate throughout our lives, impacted by a variety of factors, including life experiences, work environments, and personal relationships.
Why is it relevant to rangers and other protection and conservation professionals?
Rangers often work in challenging environments — from remote landscapes and long, unpredictable hours to navigating limited resources and the emotional toll of witnessing harm, conflict, or environmental degradation.
Many face isolation, a lack of formal peer support, and persistent stigma around mental health — all of which can erode resilience, increase risk, and affect job performance and morale.
Prioritising mental health isn’t an added extra — it’s a core part of keeping people safe, supported, and able to do their jobs well. When we protect ranger wellbeing, we protect the future of conservation too.
In some parts of the world, rangers face frequent and serious threats to their safety—ranging from encounters with armed poachers and dangerous wildlife to working in isolated and unstable environments. A 2021 survey by the Game Rangers Association of Africa found that 86% of rangers had faced a life-threatening situation, including violence and threats. Source: GRAA Report. In many regions, the majority of rangers have experienced at least one life-threatening incident while carrying out their duties.
Despite playing a vital role in protecting both wildlife and natural landscapes, rangers often do so with limited training, minimal equipment, and little support for their own physical and mental wellbeing.
We believe wellbeing support isn’t an extra, it’s a necessity. Essential to keeping rangers safe, resilient, and able to continue their vital work on the front lines of conservation.
Further Reading
- African Elephant Journal – Global Ranger Survey Summary
- IFAW – The Dangers Facing Wildlife Rangers
- Discover Wildlife – How Rangers Risk Their Lives to Protect Wildlife
External Mental Health Resources
Mental Health Foundation (UK)
Offers a wide range of factsheets, guides, and campaign information about mental health, with accessible language and clear explanations of mental health concepts.
Mind (UK)
Includes A–Z factsheets, self-care tools, and practical advice for recognising and managing mental health difficulties.
WHO – Mental Health Information
A more global overview of mental health definitions, statistics, and strategies, including mental health in crisis contexts and for humanitarian workers.
Mental Health Innovation Network
A community of mental health professionals and organisations working in low-resource and humanitarian settings. Useful for context on mental health in conservation and field-based professions.
URSA – Safeguarding the Rights & Well‑being of Rangers
Guidance on wellbeing plans, mental health support, safe working conditions, and proper equipment across ranger roles globally