* This material is translated from the educational resource psykososialberedskap.no, developed by RVTS East (Norway).
These are practical and useful tools, aimed at providing specific knowledge to victims, volunteers and humanitarian personnel, working in disaster zones.
After the accident, I attached a note to the door with the inscription: "Do not disturb". Lying in the position of the embryo and bursting into tears, I did not understand, what I need, and could not meet face to face with the outside world. Looking back, I would like to, for the crisis response team to tear that note to pieces and be more persistent – I begged for professional help.
The first days
People are born with a tremendous ability to recover. The first days after a traumatic event are difficult to predict, what difficulties they may face. In fact, the event itself does not necessarily provoke an immediate reaction from the victim, instead, it provides an opportunity to receive psychosocial support from outside. Psychosocial assistance should be provided to all, who needs it. Examples of traumatic cases are suicide, sudden unexpected deaths and other events, which threaten life and security.
In the first weeks, the shock covered me like a thick blanket. I did not even feel sharp pain from grief. When the shock subsided, there was pain. Unexpected, sudden and sometimes completely unbearable.
K'orsti Marken
Psychological and physical reactions after the event.
Psychological shock affects thoughts, well-being and perception of the environment by the victims. It can also cause physical reactions. Affected people may be worried, going crazy or getting sick. Normal reactions after an event can be easily interpreted as symptoms of the disease.
Characteristics of cases and features of victims' reactions.
The reaction of the victims is influenced by factors, related to the traumatic event and their lives. This may explain the variety of reactions, which are observed in those, who found themselves in a state of crisis.
First psychological help
Care and support are needed for the first two weeks. Stay close and calm. This will help secure the person, who survived a traumatic event, and take care of human contact and intimacy. Provide practical help to overcome a stressful situation. After all, the event can not be "corrected" or "erased from life".
Family support
The crisis affects all family members, so the whole family needs support. A traumatic event can take away so much energy from each individual family member, that the rest of the family will suffer. Increased anxiety and worry can change habitual roles and behaviors in the family.
Further measures
People, who survived a traumatic event, trying to realize, what happened, and eventually cope with everyday challenges. To deal with a traumatic event, it is important to move in different directions between overcoming loss and adapting to a new reality.. The need for support will vary – the healing process is individual. Such a movement, or "oscillation" (fluctuation), is called a double process model.
Love of life- mysterious and powerful .
You need to make room for her, even in chaos and grief.
There is nothing wrong with that, to enjoy life.
K'orsti Marken
Overcoming a heavy loss requires a lot of effort and leaves little energy for everything else. It is important to maintain oscillation, because in case of its termination the process of mourning can be broken. Oscillation helps the injured person to move forward in the grieving process. The need for support is not linear, and will vary:
3 weeks 6 weeks 3 months 6 months 12 months +
Support measures should be based on that, that victims perceive as the most important challenges. People, who have experienced traumatic events, may need help with that, to set your priorities and deal with the situation. Continuity, the comfort and predictability of support services will facilitate the recovery process.
Support for family and friends after a while
Each member of the family copes with traumatic events in their own way. This can disrupt family unity and relationships. Family members need to understand the consequences of the oscillation process. This will help them to be patient with each other's reactions and provide mutual support.
Stress management
Difficulty sleeping and concentrating – these are typical stress reactions, which gradually subside during the first 6 months. The grieving process, as well as the processing of traumatic experiences, usually lasts longer. Some people experience increased stress over time, as the consequences of the event become more obvious.
Children and adolescents
In times of crisis, children and adolescents can be both strong, and vulnerable. They can show great resilience, when they are encouraged by adults, who themselves remain calm and open. However, children's vulnerability may increase, when their parents, which usually take care of them and provide comfort, themselves experiencing a crisis.
Parents play an important role in a child's ability to overcome a crisis. They create a safe environment for their children, consoling them, providing proper care and information.
Ekornas on the waist, special adviser, RVTS East
Crisis reactions in children and adolescents
Children and adolescents oscillate between grief and daily activities. They can quickly move from sadness and crying to play and laughter. This can lead to that, that adults will underestimate children's response to crisis and grief.
Age-appropriate help and support
Provide support and information based on children's speech abilities and their understanding of themselves and others. Talk to them about the event and find out, how the child understands that, what happened during and after the situation.
Adaptation at school
Difficulties with concentration and sleep are quite common. Therefore, learning conditions should be adjusted according to the learning opportunities of each student. Continue to maintain and provide additional breaks, even when it seems, that the situation is improving; children and adolescents need to experience the experience of overcoming traumatic events.
Tips for parents
Strong family ties can protect children from the negative effects of the crisis. Parents take care of their children on a daily basis and play a significant role in the child's ability to cope with the crisis. Therefore, they should receive sufficient assistance, to accumulate energy, necessary to support each other and their children.
Organization of work
In a crisis situation, the local crisis response team is responsible for providing psychosocial assistance in cooperation with regular support services.. Such a group is multidisciplinary.
In Norway, local governments are obliged to provide psychosocial assistance in case of crisis, accidents, accidents and catastrophes, however, they have the right to decide for themselves, how to organize the work of assistance services.
Handbook of psychosocial interventions after crises, accidents, accidents and catastrophes. (IS-2428)
Plan of further psychosocial measures
Plans for further psychosocial measures should be consistent with existing local emergency preparedness and crisis response plans.. The crisis response team plays an important role in crisis situations, accidents, accidents and catastrophes.
Leadership, competence and care for team members
Critical situations are unpredictable and complex. Importantly, that the team of psychosocial crisis response was multidisciplinary and consisted of a stable group of professionals, who work and practice together. The manual describes, how to develop and maintain the competence of the crisis response team. It also provides advice on this, how to support group members.
Cooperation
Other emergency services, such as the police, Ambulance, fire protection, medical and regular priest, often operate at the district level. This organization of different municipalities within one district helps to strengthen cooperation and preparedness..
