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Module 1: Impact awareness of natural disasters and emergency response
In this module, you will visit the following topics: pre-crisis preparation, stress management education, stress resistance, crisis mitigation training; disaster or large-scale incident, as well as, school and community support programs; one-on-one crisis intervention/counselling or psychological support; etc.
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Module 2: Crisis Interventions in Depression and PTSD
Crisis is defined as a sudden event in one’s life that disturbs homeostasis, during which usual coping mechanisms cannot resolve the problem.
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Module 3: Blue Light Mental Health and Trauma Awareness
how people can learn to self regulate so that they can function more effectively mentally, emotionally and physically (regulation of the brain: neuroscience; physical - self regulation thermometer; mindfulness) (Kate King)
- Wellbeing and mental health support in the emergency services
- Blue Light Research
- Blue Light Research (2)
- Blue Light Research (3)
- Trauma
- Types of trauma
- How trauma changes our physiology – flight, fight or freeze response
- What happens after trauma
- Advice to traumatised individuals
- Advice to friends and family
- Burnout
- Signs of burnout
- Self-care
- Check your knowledge!
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Module 4: Disaster management
- Introduction
- Why is this important?
- Who are first responders?
- How First Responders Develop Mental Health Complications?
- What are the most frequent mental health complications which first responders develop?
- What barriers do first responders face to looking for mental health treatment?
- How can we help?
- EMDR Therapy
- Conclusion
- Check your knowledge!
- Bibliography
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Module 5: Communication and Stress
The aim of this module will be to learn about communication problems and stress that people with PTSD are struggling with. It will lead to greater understanding how to effectively work with such people and how to recognize the symptoms. It will help to implement this topic in teaching practice to ultimately widen participation and increase trauma awareness, emotional self regulation and preparedness for response to any traumatic event. The topics covered: PTSD, Communication and PTSD, How to communicate in a PTSD relationship?, How Is PTSD Unlike a Normal Stress Response?, Stress – Physical symptoms, Stress – Psychological symptoms, Stress – Behaviours.
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Module 6: Psychological First Aid; CPR and emergency first aid
- Training Objectives
- Learning Outcomes
- What is Psychological First Aid?
- Key Stages in PFA Training
- How Do People Respond in Emergencies ?
- How Does Trauma Impact Mental Health?
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Components of PFA
- Steps in PFA
- PFA is NOT
- Be Prepared
- Coping
- Respect
- Signs of Distress
- Social & Physical Reactions
- People with Additional Needs and Trauma
- Secondary Stressors
- Long Term Effects
- Distress & Mental Health
- Distress
- Mental Health Problems
- Resilience & Coping
- Psychosocial Resilience
- Social Support & Coping
- Dos & Don’ts’s
- Action Principles
- Communication Skills
- People Who Need More Than PFA Alone
- How to Link People for Support & Guidance
- Self Care & Ending Assistance
- Summary
- Check your knowledge!
Stress – Psychological symptoms
The symptoms can be stronger if the threat is perceived to be a greater danger. However, after the stress has ended, the body releases additional hormones that return everything to normal over a short period of time. Even for those who experience chronic stress, it is possible to return the body’s response to normal once the stressor is resolved.
In a person who is experiencing a normal stress response, the hormones involved also have a powerful effect on the brain. According to information from Harvard Medical School, this corresponds with the physical response to heighten the person’s awareness and increase reaction time when it may be critical. The person may experience the following psychological symptoms in response to normal stress:
- Mild to moderate anxiety
- Increased focus and attention
- Insomnia
- Moodiness
For the person with PTSD, the emotional and cognitive response is heightened compared to that of a person who does not have PTSD. In fact, the individual with PTSD maintains many of the psychological symptoms of stress chronically, even when there is no stressor around. For example, a person with PTSD may have heightened anxiety and hyper-attentiveness even in a benign situation, like going out to dinner.
In addition, people with PTSD have psychological symptoms that those who don’t have it don’t generally experience, including:
- Re-experiencing the traumatic event through nightmares or flashbacks
- Displaying intense emotion when confronted with reminders of the event
- Feeling hypervigilant at all times
- Having extreme responses to minor stimuli such as being startled