What are the most effective communication strategies for psychological first aid with disaster survivors?

1 Listen actively

Listening is more than just hearing what the other person is saying. It involves paying attention to their verbal and non-verbal cues, such as tone, facial expressions, and body language. Listening also means acknowledging their feelings, validating their experiences, and showing respect and compassion. Active listening can help you understand the survivor's needs, concerns, and preferences, and tailor your response accordingly. To listen actively, you should avoid interrupting, judging, or giving advice, and use open-ended questions, paraphrasing, and summarizing to clarify and confirm what you heard.

2 Provide clear information

One of the main goals of PFA is to help the survivor cope with the uncertainty and confusion caused by the disaster. Providing clear, accurate, and relevant information can help them make sense of what happened, what to expect, and what to do next. Information can also reduce anxiety, rumors, and misinformation, and increase hope and resilience. To provide clear information, you should use simple and understandable language, avoid technical jargon or acronyms, and check for comprehension and feedback. You should also be honest and realistic, and avoid making false promises or guarantees.

5 Follow ethical principles

PFA is not only a technical skill, but also a moral responsibility. Following ethical principles means ensuring that your communication with the survivor is guided by respect, dignity, confidentiality, and safety. Following also means being aware of your own limits, boundaries, and biases, and seeking supervision, consultation, or referral when necessary. To follow ethical principles, you should adhere to the code of conduct and standards of your profession and organization, protect the survivor's privacy and personal information, and report any signs of abuse, neglect, or harm.

6 Take care of yourself

Communicating with disaster survivors can be emotionally demanding and stressful, and PFA providers should take care of their own well-being and mental health. Taking care of yourself means recognizing and managing your own stress, emotions, and reactions, and seeking support and help when needed. Taking care also means maintaining a healthy balance between work and personal life, and engaging in activities that promote relaxation, recovery, and resilience. To take care of yourself, you should monitor your physical and psychological symptoms, practice self-care strategies, such as breathing, exercise, or meditation, and participate in peer support or debriefing sessions.