10/19/2011. IFRC Attitudes Principles Approaches Tools. Psychological First Aid

Transcription

1 IFRC Attitudes Principles Approaches Tools Psychological First Aid 2 1

2 Training kit Module 5: Psychological first aid Important elements of PFA Active listening Stay close Accept feelings Provide general care and practical help Focused on skill building in supportive communication Attitudes Being trained in PFA provides you with generic skills that can be used for a variety of reasons, including in you personal life People that you assist as staff and volunteers Family Friends Colleagues Neighbours And You helps raise your awareness and facilitates actions PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID 4 2

3 A majority of people wants to help They are afraid to do something wrong To make things worse To be in the way To be confronted Through trainings and advocacy they are empowered to Act Support Understand PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID 5 Flexibility Different national societies wants to develop their PFA tools based on their own experiences Good examples are Norwegian, British, Sweedish and Danish, Georgian, Myanmar And many others.. They can use our approches, and adopt to fit local context We should advice not decide What we can do is consult with and ask to follow the 5 principles PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID 6 3

4 Empirically supported intervention principles Intervention and prevention efforts at the early to mid term stages after a disaster include promoting: 1) Sense of safety 2) Calm 3) Sense of self and community efficacy 4) Connectedness 5) Hope Hobfoll et al. (2007) and TENTS guidelines (2010) 7 Restoring family links Link up to ICRC Help get in touch with loved ones Information Waiting time Support when when bad news have been conveyed Together with ICRC we are discovering how we can work together, to improve and strenthen the link between psychological first aid and RFL 10/19/

5 PFA a core function of PSP of IFRC and of the movement the RC Movement In a diverse range of programs In disasters, conflict situations, recovery programmes, social services Diverse or stand alone Principle of humanity: Psychosocial support is the heartbeat of humanity! 9 Other principles Humanity The humanitarian imperative Being the face of humanity Code of conduct According to local context Participation Involvement of affected people in developemnt of services 10 5

6 Statements about PFA PFA is a term that originated toward the end of World War II. It has been used with a variety of meanings in the literature, and this range of interpretations has reduced the term s usefulness. Jacobs, G.A. & Meyers, D. (2005) There is an absence of direct evidence for the effectiveness of PFA but indirect evidence supports the delivery of services based on the principles of PFA in the first few weeks after a traumatic event. Bisson, J.I. & Lewis, C. (2009) Psychological first aid has been recommended by many international and national expert groups, IASC (2007) and the Sphere Project (2011). WHO (2011) PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID 11 What is Psychological First Aid (PFA)? PFA is an evidence-informed modular approach PFA aims to help children, adolescents, adults, and families in the immediate aftermath of disaster and terrorism and other critical events PFA is designed to reduce the initial distress caused by traumatic events PFA aims to foster short- and long-term adaptive functioning and coping. PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID 12 6

7 The Psychological First Aid (PFA) approach Varied reactions People will experience a broad range of reactions Reactions cause distress Distress may interfere with adaptive coping Recovery can be supported Support provided by compassionate and caring disaster responders Aims of PFA To reduce the initial distress and to support adaptive functioning and coping Sphere (2011) and IASC (2007) 13 Non-intrusive, practical care and support Assessing needs and concerns Helping people to address basic needs Listening to people, but not pressuring them to talk Comforting people and helping them to feel calm Helping people connect to information, services and social supports Protecting people from further harm Sphere (2011) and IASC (2007) 14 7

8 something that only professionals can do professional counseling a clinical intervention psychological debriefing a detailed discussion of events or putting events in order asking someone to analyze what happened pressuring people to tell their feelings and reactions Sphere (2011) and IASC (2007) 15 The personal touch Difference between First Aid and Psychological First Aid Although it is a stepwise approach and based on basic principles, it will not be provided in the same way by different volunteers, in different contexts and in different situations 16 8

9 Training kit Module 5: Psychological first aid Important elements of PFA Active listening Stay close Accept feelings Provide general care and practical help Focused on skill building in supportive communication Local interpretations based on the five principles of resilience adapted to local context Translated vesion of the manual in to: Russian, Mongolian, French, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Georgian, Arabic, Sinhalese and probably many more 9

10 PFA as part of immediate disaster response 10/19/2011 PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID 19 Core Actions Preparing to Deliver PFA 1. Contact and Engagement 2. Safety and Comfort 3. Stabilization 4. Information Gathering 5. Needs and Current Concerns 6. Practical Assistance 7. Connection with Social Supports 8. Information on Coping 9. Linkage with Collaborative Services 10

11 Action principles of PFA Look safety obvious urgent basic needs serious distress reactions Listen People who may need support people s needs and concerns Listen and feel calm Link Basic needs and access services Help people cope with problems. Give information. Connect people with loved ones and social support. So which guideline/manual should you use? Training kit Module 5: Psychological first aid (IFRC) Training in supportive communication. Sequential particpatory exercises. Psychological First Aid Field Operations Guide (NCTSN) For emergency rescue workers, Western settings. Example dialogues, detailed instructions and questionnaires. Psychological First Aid Guide for Field Workers (WHO) Developed for LAMIC, emphasis on cultural adaption. Case work with action principles. PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID 22 11

12 How do you train PFA? How do you train PFA in your NS? How do you make it applicable and practical in field settings? How do you address developmental levels across the lifespan? Do you aim to make it culturally informed? How do you evaluate trainees? How do you maintain the teams? How do you maintain their skills? Do you provide supervision? PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID 12