How should we approach people who have been exposed to events such as earthquakes and floods, the pain of death, the pain of separation, sudden trauma, drowning, or who have lost someone close to them?
While physical intervention is the first thing that comes to mind when we think of first aid, psychology is often overlooked. The right approach to people exposed to trauma is of great importance. Experts point out the importance of showing great sensitivity when communicating in first aid, and recommend respecting unexpected sudden reactions and avoiding prejudices.
İhsan Öztekin, an Expert Clinical Psychologist from Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital, underlined that it is necessary to be very sensitive when communicating with the person or people who have been exposed to trauma and said, "The person may be withdrawn. They may be tense, angry and extremely sad. In the first approach, the person should be given time without giving the message 'I am here to help you' and should not be expected immediately."
REASSURING STANCE IS IMPORTANT
Stating that psychological first aid can be provided without a request or application for help, İhsan Öztekin emphasizes that the first step in the intervention should be to try to communicate with a calm, reassuring stance.
"If he/she is closed to communication, if he/she refuses to accept help, he/she should be respected, and he/she should be informed that he/she is ready to help whenever he/she wants to get help," says İhsan Öztekin, Clinical Psychologist and summarizes the first emotional states seen in traumatized people as follows:
"The traumatic event may cause feelings such as helplessness, hopelessness, confusion, inability to make sense of it, extreme fear, anxiety and terror. Of course, people's reactions may vary depending on factors such as age, physical and psychological problems, previous distressing events and the severity of the event."
IN THE BEGINNING, SILENCE CAN SOMETIMES BE MORE BENEFICIAL THAN TALKING
Emphasizing that psychological first aid is not a long-term and therapeutic aid, Specialist Psychologist İhsan Öztekin said that the main purpose of psychological first aid is to direct people to behaviors that will be good for them and to avoid behaviors that may harm them. "The person is removed from feelings of helplessness and hopelessness and is enabled to acquire positive emotions through the communication established and the trust provided," Öztekin said, noting that the 3 basic principles of psychological first aid are "Watch-Listen-Connect". Explaining that the help does not necessarily have to be in a closed environment and table-chair, but can be anywhere, İhsan Öztekin said: "The person who will provide psychological first aid should express himself/herself very well, introduce himself/herself very well, and if the environment is unsafe, security should be ensured or the person should be taken to a safer environment. In the beginning, sometimes just physical presence, calmness and support can be more beneficial than talking."
FIRST BOND PREPARES THE GROUND FOR LONG-TERM HELP
İhsan Öztekin states that if there is more than one person exposed to trauma, all of them should be monitored and the people most in need of psychological first aid should be identified, and lists the next steps as follows:
"After identifying the people who will provide psychological first aid, it is ensured that the person shares his/her problems, feelings and wishes with the most appropriate communication methods. With this bond established with the person, the basis for the long-term help and support to be provided later is also formed. In psychological first aid, technical explanations, analysis and advice should be avoided. Unexpected sudden personal reactions should be respected and prejudices should be avoided."
REASONS FOR NOT WANTING TO RECEIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID?
- Not wanting to relive and think about the traumatic event
- Anxiety about being a burden on other people
- Not knowing what they need
- The idea that the help they will receive will be useless
- Feeling shy, embarrassed, weak
- Thinking that other people will not understand
- Concern that they will be prosecuted
- Fear of losing control
WHAT TO DO IN PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID
- Be calm, kind, ready to help and make the other person feel it.
- Interest and attention should be shown.
- Body language should be used well. Be sensitive about eye contact, physical distance, facial expression and gestures.
- Help the expression of emotions. They should be made to feel that they understand them and their feelings.
- Avoid technical explanations, analysis and advice.
- Unexpected sudden personal reactions should be respected.
- Avoid prejudices.
- If you are there for psychological first aid in a disaster such as an earthquake, you should be in an easily accessible and visible place.
- Have knowledge and experience about the difficulties and problems that have been experienced and may be experienced.
- Have information about the person who needs help.
- Should not go beyond what they should and can do. Provide the necessary guidance on issues that go beyond their field or require more expertise. For this, he/she should have established prior communication with the experts he/she will refer.
WHAT NOT TO DO IN PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID
- Avoid criticism and arguments.
- Avoid statements such as "You will be fine, forget it, don't worry about it".
- It should not be said that the person is lucky by saying "it could have been worse".
- Advice should not be given without listening to the person and knowing their feelings and thoughts.
- One should not tell one's own thoughts and experiences without listening to the person's story.
- The person should not be silenced when talking about issues that bother him/her.