Psychological Triage and First Aid
Objectives
CEUs are available for this presentation at https://allceus.com/webinar
~Explore applications for psychological triage and first aid in crisis situations
~Discuss the applicability of this approach for clinicians, reception staff, clergy, teachers and employers
Psychological Triage and First Aid
~A method of becoming aware of and providing initial response to a crisis situation
Applicability
~Clinicians
~Reception staff
~Clergy
~Teachers
~Employers
Activity
~Write one of the following on each of the 7 cards you are given:
~Your best friend
~Your closest family member
~One of your favorite belongings
~Something you enjoy, an activity, or hobby.
~An ability
~Health
~Housing
~Financial Security
~After you have written on each card, place them face down on the table and shuffle them around. Close your eyes and pick three cards…
Role of the Lay Person
~Protect from danger
~Be direct and active
~Provide accurate information about what you’re going to do
~Reassure, but do not give false assurances
~Recognize the importance of taking action
~Provide and ensure emotional support
Considerations
~People typically rely on past strategies to cope with new stressful situations
~Past coping mechanisms can be functional or dysfunctional.
~Hardiness (resilience) has been identified as a buffer
~Children can be vulnerable because they have no experience or known patterns of actions as a response to the experience.
Psychological First Aid promotes and sustains an environment of all of the following EXCEPT:{
~Safety
~Calm
~Connectedness
=Caregiver dependence
~Hope}
Summary
~Many people in the community are in a position to provide early identification of someone in crisis.
~Many times people in crisis who receive support, connect with available resources and have adequate coping and health-related behaviors will adjust without professional help
~People who are alert to other people’s distress can easily start experiencing compassion fatigue
~It is vital to remember that for a responder to be responsive, he or she must be healthy.
~Making psychological triage a part of the routine of teachers, clergy, LEO, supervisors can assist in reducing mental illness and substance abuse and increasing individual welfare and economic stability.
~Offering practical assistance is composed of four steps
~Identifying the most immediate needs
~Clarifying the need
~Acting to address the need