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How can you provide psychological first aid to individuals affected by a mass shooting?

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Mass shootings are traumatic events that can have devastating impacts on the survivors, witnesses, families, and communities. They can trigger intense emotions, such as fear, anger, sadness, guilt, and helplessness. They can also cause physical and mental health problems, such as insomnia, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). How can you provide psychological first aid to individuals affected by a mass shooting? Psychological first aid (PFA) is a set of skills and strategies that can help reduce the distress and improve the coping of people who have experienced a crisis. PFA is not a form of therapy or counseling, but rather a way of offering support, comfort, and information. Here are some tips on how to provide PFA to individuals affected by a mass shooting.

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Sonnal Pardiwala PCC

| Therapist | Stress Navigation Specialist | Professional Certified Coach (PCC)(ICF)|Care Coach at BetterUp|

1 Assess the situation

Before you approach someone who may need PFA, make sure that you are safe and that the person is not in immediate danger or in need of medical attention. If the situation is still unstable or threatening, help the person move to a safer place. If the person is injured or has a serious medical condition, call for emergency services or assist them in getting professional care. If the person is not in a life-threatening situation, but is visibly distressed, ask them if they would like to talk to you or if they need any assistance.

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2 Listen and empathize

One of the most important aspects of PFA is listening to the person's story and expressing empathy. Empathy means showing that you understand and care about how the person feels and what they have been through. You can show empathy by using a calm and gentle tone of voice, making eye contact, nodding, and using supportive words and phrases, such as "I'm sorry this happened to you", "You are not alone", or "You did the best you could". Avoid interrupting, judging, blaming, or giving advice. Just listen and acknowledge the person's emotions and reactions.

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Sonnal Pardiwala PCC

| Therapist | Stress Navigation Specialist | Professional Certified Coach (PCC)(ICF)|Care Coach at BetterUp|
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Offer silence and presence. They might be in shock and denial. They may not be in a position to talk immediately. Your silence and presence can offer human support while they process what just happened. Do not ask questions that require them to make decisions. Their prefrontal cortex has likely shut down. Once they indicate they are ready to share, acknowledge what they share. It may take a while for coherence to prevail. Losses begin dawning. Provide information of support systems they can avail of. Connect them to those who can take ownership of their daily living. If Govt has made help available, this is the time to share that guidance

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3 Provide information and reassurance

Another key component of PFA is providing information and reassurance to the person. Information can help the person make sense of what happened and what to expect next. Reassurance can help the person feel more hopeful and less fearful. You can provide information and reassurance by explaining the facts of the event, the common responses to trauma, the available resources and services, and the coping strategies that can help. You can also reassure the person that their feelings are normal and understandable, that they are not alone, and that they can recover and heal.

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4 Encourage connection and support

A third element of PFA is encouraging connection and support to the person. Connection and support can help the person feel less isolated and more supported. You can encourage connection and support by helping the person identify and contact their family, friends, or other trusted people who can offer emotional, practical, or spiritual support. You can also suggest that the person join a support group, a community organization, or a faith-based group that can provide a sense of belonging and solidarity. You can also remind the person that they can seek professional help if they feel overwhelmed or have persistent or severe symptoms.

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Sonnal Pardiwala PCC

| Therapist | Stress Navigation Specialist | Professional Certified Coach (PCC)(ICF)|Care Coach at BetterUp|
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Research indicates that 'misery loves company' People who shared common strand of pain could get together to share stories, support one another for they have been through a tragedy together. They understand the vocabulary of the shared tragic incident. Encourage the person to find family members, friends or community members with whom they can live or connect on a daily basis. Support groups now social media communities too offer space to share their traumas and tragic occurrences! Every psychological connection or sense of support can help them walk back to their well being territory.

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5 Promote self-care and coping

A fourth aspect of PFA is promoting self-care and coping to the person. Self-care and coping can help the person restore their physical and mental well-being and resilience. You can promote self-care and coping by helping the person identify and practice activities that can help them relax, calm down, and distract themselves from the negative thoughts and feelings. These activities can include breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, music, art, hobbies, or sports. You can also encourage the person to take care of their basic needs, such as eating, sleeping, hydrating, and avoiding alcohol and drugs. You can also suggest that the person set realistic and manageable goals , focus on their strengths, and celebrate their achievements.

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Sonnal Pardiwala PCC

| Therapist | Stress Navigation Specialist | Professional Certified Coach (PCC)(ICF)|Care Coach at BetterUp|
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Not blaming self is the primary self care measure. They may go into numbness and shock, blame self for doing or not doing things a certain way. Neglecting personal hygiene to personal injuries is common. Follow up can take the form of gentle reminders to take medications, dress wounds, cope with uncertainty that prevails and point out that the situation might be intense but not permanent or pervasive. That cognition may support self care measures.

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6 Follow up and refer

A final step of PFA is following up and referring the person to other sources of help if needed. Following up means checking in with the person after some time to see how they are doing and if they need any further assistance. Referring means helping the person access other services or professionals that can provide more specialized or long-term support, such as mental health counselors, social workers, or legal advisors. You can follow up and refer the person by asking them for their contact information, giving them your contact information, and agreeing on a time and method to communicate. You can also provide them with a list of local or online resources that they can use or contact if they need more help.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you provide psychological first aid to individuals affected by a mass shooting?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess the situation

2 Listen and empathize

3 Provide information and reassurance

4 Encourage connection and support

5 Promote self-care and coping

6 Follow up and refer

7 Here’s what else to consider

Stress Management

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How can you provide psychological first aid to individuals affected by a mass shooting?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess the situation

2 Listen and empathize

3 Provide information and reassurance

4 Encourage connection and support

5 Promote self-care and coping

6 Follow up and refer

7 Here’s what else to consider

Stress Management

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