psychosocial support
DESCRIPTION
Psychosocial SupportTRANSCRIPT
PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT IN EMERGENCY
SETTING
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Learning Objectives:1.Understand what constitutes a crisis event and
how it impacts individuals, families and communities
2.Understand what constitutes psychosocial support and why it is needed
3.Describe how support is given at different levels using the IASC guidelines.
4.Discuss the role of volunteers in providing psychosocial activities following IASC guidelines in mental health and psychosocial support
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
What is a Crisis Event?“A crisis event is a major
event outside the range of normal everyday experience that is extremely threatening to those involved, usually accompanied by feelings of powerlessness, horror or terror.”
Crisis Events and Psychosocial Support
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Sudden Powerful Usually outside the range of
ordinary human experience With a strong emotional effect on
people May overwhelm the usually effective
coping skills of an individual or group
Characteristics of Crisis Events
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Different factors affect what kind of impact an event has on an individual or community
Protective factors: literally “protect” people, reducing the impact of hardship and difficulties
What Makes Events Critical?
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Risk factors – literally put people “at risk” increasing the impact or hardship and difficulties
What Makes Events Critical?
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
What is Psychosocial
Support?Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
It is any type of local or support that aims to protect or promote psychosocial well-being and/prevents or threats mental disorder
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
It is a process of meeting emotional, social, mental and spiritual needs, all of which are considered essential elements of meaningful positive human development. It goes beyond simply meeting the person’s physical needs.
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
A process of facilitating resilience within individuals, families an communities
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Crisis typically disrupts a person’s life in many different ways and can lead to loss of: Near and significant loved ones Control over own life and future A sense of security Hope and initiative Dignity Social infrastructure and institutions Access to services Property, Prospects of a livelihood
Why Provide Psychosocial Support?
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
In any disaster the magnitude of psychosocial and mental health issues is enormous.
Apart from logistic and material help, the sufferings of the affected populations will require psychosocial and mental health interventions.
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Mobilizing early and adequate psychosocial support can prevent distress and suffering from developing into something more severe
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Psychosocial support helps people affected by crises to recover
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
The organization and provision of psychological support will depend entirely on the critical event for which support is needed. It must be clear that there are no simple solutions
Basic Principles in the implementation of a
psychological support Program
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
A number of guiding principles have however, been identified, which should be considered before and during the implementation of a psychological support progam
Basic Principles in the implementation of a
psychological support Program
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Builds on local resources, providing training and upgrading local structures and institutions
1. Community-based Approach
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Focus on strengthening groups and networks within the community
Involvement of he community, with its knowledge, values and practices
Community-based Approach
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Will promote empowerment and local ownership
Control over their own lives as well as life of the community
Community Participation
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Mobilization of collective strength to restore natural community networks
Helps reintegrate individuals and families within their communities
Community Participation
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Training aims to help them share and apply basic psychological skills with survivors of crisis, shock and loss
Have easy access to, and the confidence of
disaster survivors Benefit from cultural insight in provision of assistance
2. Trained volunteers
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Helping other people but not making the recipient passive
3. Empowerment
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Quality relief and assistance is based on helping others to gain self-respect and autonomy (empowerment)
Empowerment
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Abilities and strengths of recipients are as important focus as their problems
Empowerment
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Describing large numbers of the population as traumatized is inaccurate
“trauma” is a clinical term requiring specific clinical responses. Its general use counter productive to healing
4. Care with terminology
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Terminology such as “active survivor” enhances empowerment
Care with terminology
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Focus on competence rather than symptoms and deficits (existing resources, coping mechanisms and the resilience of beneficiaries should be built on) identification and strengthening of mechanism
that will contribute to better coping Active involvement of people in sorting out their
problems Recognition of people’s skills and competence
5. Active involvement
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
preventive factor when it helps people to cope to cope better with their situations
Enhance capacity of people to react effectively and start recognizing their lives
6. Early intervention
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Problems may not surface immediately-disaster create both immediate and long-term psychological needs
Sustainable programme more likely of local resources in training included
7. Viable intervention
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Training should be followed by mentoring and Follow-up
Traditional clinical approaches are still very much in the foreground, but the community-based approach is gaining ground as may more people are being helped to come to terms with disasters in simple and sensitive ways
7. Viable intervention
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Source: Zunin and Myers, 2000
Pre-impact Impact Post-impact
IMPACT
HERO
ISM
COMMUNITY SOLIDARITY
DISILUSIONM
ENT
RECONSTRUCTIO
N
1 – 3 Days 1 – 3 Years
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
The Affected Population:(IASC Guidelines: A layered system of complementary supports)
Source: This illustration is based on the intervention pyramid for mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies in the IASC Guidelines (2007).
Who are Psychosocial Services Provided to?
Professional treatment for individuals or families
Severe psychological disorders
Individual, family or group interventions
Psychosocial support activities
Fulfilling basic needs, providing security
Mild to moderate mental health disorders
Mild psychological distress( natural reactions to crisis event)
General population affected by crisis
Responses suggested Impacts on population due to crises
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Phases of Psychosocial RecoveryEmergency Recovery – long term
Immediate response
Long term programme design
ACTIVITY PLANNING Regular review and adaptation according to findings of ongoing monitoring and evaluationRECOVERY PHASES
Root shock Realization Acknowledgement Adaptation
ACTIVITY EXAMPLESPsychological First Aid Support groups Youth clubsNeed and resource mapping Home visits Drama activitiesDrama activities Regular play groups with children Memorial activities
3 mths 6 mths 1 year 2 year 3 years
Critical
eventPhilippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Advantages of VolunteersVolunteers are part of the local communityVolunteers know the culture
Needs of volunteersBasic knowledge of psychosocial supportSupport and encouragementResources
Role of Staff and Volunteers
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Characteristics of those who help:Good listening skills and a caring attitudeKnowledge of PS and good helping skills
Core activitiesNonjudgmental listeningGiving practical informationProviding a safe, calm environmentResponding to basic needs in a culturally
sensitive mannerRecognizing and referring people that
might be in need of mental health services
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Training the psychosocial team
HIG
HER
NEE
DS
MO
RE
TRAI
NIN
G
Basic support to affected individuals does not require any training
Assistance to groups, addressing protection needs requires awareness of psychosocial issues
Psychological first aid, support to affected population and implementation of activities require first aid training and basic psychosocial support training
Counseling, targeted support groups require extensive training on specific topics
Mental health interventions require mental health background
Source: PS Centre, 2009Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.
Philippine Mental Health Ass'n. Baguio-Benguet Chapter Inc.