"Overcome Your Challenges, Become Responsible", Morocco | Youth Exchange

Psychological First Aid can prove to be particularly crucial in incidents where their application is needed. If we take into account some statistics that tell us that every forty seconds someone commits suicide somewhere in the world, that one in four adults will at some point develop a mental illness, and that only a small percentage of these people will receive systematic and adequate mental health services, then the need for people who know what Psychological First Aid is and how to provide it becomes invaluable!

In contrast to people in need of first aid for a physical problem or injury, who will receive these services, those facing a mental health emergency, such as a panic attack or suicidal ideation, have little to no chance of receiving any immediate and urgent care in such situations. Psychological First Aid consists of services provided to individuals who are developing a psychological problem or are experiencing an intense psychological crisis. It would be extremely comforting and helpful for them to receive these psychological first aid measures until they are seen by a specialist in a hospital or clinical setting and until the symptoms of the mental crisis subside. In today’s Greece, more and more people around us are suffering. Many are involved in incidents of domestic violence and abusive relationships, or their lives are radically changed after environmental disasters such as floods, fires, earthquakes, etc. It is essential to train young people so they can immediately, through short conversations, temporarily relieve and serve as a supportive reference point for their fellow human beings. Psychological First Aid has been designed to mitigate the effects of acute stress and trauma and to help those in crisis effectively cope with adversity. Participants will be taught flexible techniques that can be applied in various contexts. After training, Psychological First Aid can be used by anyone who is willing and understands the difficult position in which the other person has found themselves, without necessarily being a mental health professional. It is a way to strengthen the resilience of the community.

The program is aimed at young people aged 18-30 who wish to contribute to easing the pain that others around them may be facing due to certain circumstances. The goals of this program are for participants to develop understanding and empathy skills. Furthermore, they will be taught techniques that will help them listen to the needs of others, provide support, and communicate effectively in times of crisis.

Upon completion of the program, the trainee will be able to fully identify the modern methods, tools, and techniques for mental empowerment in their professional relationship with people who have experienced trauma or crises on an individual or social level. Upon completion of the program, the trainee will have theoretical knowledge regarding the developmental, cognitive, psychosocial, and moral background of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Additionally, they will be able to identify practices and applications for mental resilience in the educational field.

Here, you can find the Psychological First Aid guide we created: