COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ∙ MODULE 5
Psychological first aid
Module and supportive
communication
5
COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ∙ MODULE 5
Psychological first aid and
supportive communication
• Psychological first aid
• Supportive communication
• Telephone support and
facilitating support groups
COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ∙ MODULE 5
Psychological first aid and
supportive communication
Active listening is the core
element of psychological first
aid
COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ∙ MODULE 5
Knowing the starting point
In order to truly succeed in
leading a person to a certain
place, first and foremost you
must be mindful of finding him
where he is right now and then
begin from there.
- Søren Kierkegaard, Danish 19th century philosopher
COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ∙ MODULE 5
Active listening
Work in pairs:
• One person tells the other a
personal story
- not necessarily about a crisis
event.
• The other person listens actively by
asking clarifying and summarizing
questions.
COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ∙ MODULE 5
When is psychological first aid
needed?
• Disasters
• First aid
• Home visits
• Telephone and
online support
COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ∙ MODULE 5
Psychological first aid
• Active listening – the
key element
• Stay close - being near
is a sign of caring
• Accept feelings –
accept the affected
person’s interpretation
of the event
• Provide general care
and practical help – this
is also a way of
showing care
COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ∙ MODULE 5
Psyhological reactions and responses
COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ∙ MODULE 5
Providing psychological first aid
Divide into groups of three
• Read the scenario
• Agree on roles:
– Cecilia who needs psychological
first aid
– Helper supports the recipient
– Observer notes elements of
psychological first aid in the
interaction
COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ∙ MODULE 5
Key values in supportive
communication
• Empathy is the ability to see and feel
from the affected person’s point of
view
• Respect will allow you to listen and not
make assumptions
• When communicating, keep in mind the
need to empower the affected person
• Be sure to take a non-judgemental
stance
COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ∙ MODULE 5
Responding in a crisis
• Be constructive and focus on recent actions that can be
changed
• Respond with general statements instead of asking
questions or giving answers
• Focus on the person’s thoughts and feelings
• Give supportive feedback without judgement
• Ask open-ended questions
• Concentrate on what the person is saying
COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ∙ MODULE 5
Non-verbal communication
Non-verbal communication is just as important as verbal
Some good tips are:
• Face the speaker
• Display an open posture, especially with your arms.
• Keep an appropriate distance: proximity reflects
interest, but may also communicate intimacy,
informality or pushiness
• Make frequent non-intrusive eye contact
• Be particularly aware of different cultural practices
with this behaviour
• Appear calm and relaxed
COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ∙ MODULE 5
Listening and responding
Work in groups of three:
• Assume the following roles:
Helper, recipient, observer
• The recipient shares an issue,
related to his/her work
• The helper should practise all
the skills learned so far
• The observer should give
feedback to the helper
COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ∙ MODULE 5
Personal communication skills
Stay in the same groups
Discuss the following questions:
• When you are working as a helper, what
communication skills do you need?
• What values are the most important in
the situations where these skills are
needed?
COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ∙ MODULE 5
Ethical conduct
• Do no harm
• Be trustworthy and keep your
word with appropriate action
• Never exploit your
relationship
• Respect a person’s right to
make his/her own decisions
• Never exaggerate your skills
or competence
• Be aware of your own biases
and prejudices
COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ∙ MODULE 5
Support groups
• Psychosocial well-being often flows from experiences
of community participation and co-operative effort
• People who feel a sense of belonging within an
effective group derive a sense of membership and
worth
• Establishing a support group is inexpensive and
relatively simple
• Rely primarily upon assisting people at the
community level
• Become comfortable and effective in working with
various sizes of groups
• Define a target group around an issue for which there
is sufficient interest to motivate significant
participation
COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ∙ MODULE 5
Facilitating support groups
Crucial factors in this process:
• A good facilitator; knowledgeable in
group work
• Regularly scheduled meetings at an
accessible location
• Groups based on community members’
needs and desires
COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT ∙ MODULE 5
Recap
• What are the four elements of
psychological first aid?
• What does supportive
communication mean?
• What are support groups and how
do they work?
