When terrible things happen in our communities, we
can reach out a helping hand to those who are affected. Perhaps you find
yourself at the scene of an accident where people are hurt. Perhaps you are a
health-care worker or teacher talking with someone from your community who has
just witnessed the violent death of a loved one. Perhaps you are called upon as
a staff member in a disaster or volunteer to help asylum seekers who have
recently arrived in your community. Learning the basic principles of psychological
first aid will help you to provide support to people who are very distressed,
and, importantly, to know what not to say.
The theme of this year’s World Mental
Health Day, observed on 10 October, covers “psychological first aid”. Efforts
in support of the day will focus on basic pragmatic psychological support by
people who find themselves in a helping role whether they are health staff,
teachers, firemen, community workers, or police officers.
