Psycho-social Support, stress awareness and management: some historical notions within the Red Cross/Red Crescent

Transcription

1 : some historical notions within the Red Cross/Red Crescent In the past psychological support was We spoke of traumatised people rather than those affected or implicated We looked for weaknesses and symptoms without looking also for ressources and strengths We talked of individuals id as isolated beings rather than individuals as members of families, groups and communities We thought volunteers and staff should be tough, strong and never tired or affected 1

2 Community-based Psychosocial Support Objectives To assist affected people p to attain stable life and integrated functioning, to restore hope, dignity, mental and social well-being and a sense of normality Psychosocial support: actual guiding principles Fundamental principles Humanity, Neutrality, Impartiality, Independence, Voluntarism, Unity, Universality Focused on strength and resilience Early intervention Culturally sensitive Community-based and shared community ownership Community based and shared community ownership In collaboration and in consultation: based on locally identified needs Sustainable and including local capacity-building Inclusive: all groups included so as to avoid creating new divisions Active participation of the affected population and in collaboration with National Societies 2

3 Psychosocial support: ways of doing it Community-based interventions to re-establish a safe and calm environment and improve community functioning Active, non-judgemental listening practical information on whereabouts of family members and access to social help specified activities or programmes developed for vulnerable groups training and capacity-building of volunteers Psychosocial support : actual guiding principles 2 IASC guidelines :The Sphere Project Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response for Mental Health and PS 2007 edition The 2020 Strategy from the IFRC which places The 2020 Strategy from the IFRC which places Psychosocial support in all 3 objectives: 1. Saving lives and hastening recovery from disasters and emergencies. 2. Practicing safe, healthy lifestyles 3. Living and working together in peace and harmony 3

4 Helping the helpers There are several ways of doing it: Peers are specially selected and trained volunteers and staff from specific fields trained to support their colleagues in the acute phase after critical incidents Peers work closely together with mental health professionals and refer to them if necessary In some countries support is done only by psychologists In other countries the support is done by trained first aiders Helping the helpers: guiding principles Provide an individually tailored response that encompasses practical and social support Use a follow-up and, where necessary, do an appropriate referral to a mental health professional Be careful with medicalisation (raising expectations to develop symptoms by too much psycho-education) 4

5 Helping the helpers: guiding principles Be careful with confrontation: Any discussion of the event is respondent led Do a screening for persons at risk after one month The support programme works best when there is support from both and the grass- roots level POSTERS We are planning to do - a new poster on volunteer and staff support - renew our poster on psychosocial support We ask you to add to the new poster Work in four groups for 8minutes. Each group discusses the poster next to them. What would you add or change? Place your group ideas on post-it s and place on the blank page. Change posters and repeat the exercise. 5

6 THANK YOU THANK YOU Maureen Mooney and Barbara Juen 6