People who feel safe, connected, calm and hopeful, have access to social, physical and emotional support and find ways to help themselves after a crisis situation, will be better able to recover long-term from mental health effects.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) are launching a Caribbean communication campaign to promote mental wellbeing and positive coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 hurricane season. The campaign will also aim to reduce the stigma about seeking mental health and psychosocial support and convey the basic principles of Psychological First Aid (PFA).
PFA is a way of helping people to feel calm and able to cope in a difficult situation.
During times of stress and crisis, you can help others when you LOOK, LISTEN and LINK.
Refers to how to assess the current situation, who needs support, safety and security risks, the immediate basic and practical needs, and expected emotional reactions.
Refers to how to begin the conversation, pay attention and listen actively, accept feelings and calm someone in distress, ask about needs and concerns, and help find solutions.
Refers to how to assist with accessing information and connecting with loved ones and social support, and accessing services and other help.
New revised edition of the illustrated booklet developed by the Pan American Health Organization and the Caribbean Development Bank. It is meant as a tool to help the general population of the Caribbean care for themselves and their communities during crisis situations.
The booklet explains in a simple language with the help of graphics, the main elements of psychological first aid (PFA), a humane, supportive, and practical response to a fellow human being who is suffering and may need support. The revised edition includes special safety and disease prevention considerations due to the COVID-19 pandemic while providing PFA.
Check, download and use the campaign materials:
Chorus:
Be ready to Look, Listen and Link
After crisis or disaster
Look, Listen and Link
Because we are stronger together!
Verse 1:
It’s OK to talk about, how ya feel inside,
Shows the strength you have in you,
To make it all alright,
Look out for the children Women and Elderly
So all of them know You know just how they feel
Chorus:
Be ready to Look, Listen and Link
After crisis or disaster
Look, Listen and Link
Because we are stronger together!
Verse 2:
You think about others,
But don’t forget about you
Listen to your brother,
And he will listen to you,
You’re never alone don’t accept no violence, -
Reach out to your neighbour, don’t suffer in silence!
Chorus:
Be ready to Look, Listen and Link
After crisis or disaster
Look, Listen and Link
Because we are stronger together!
The 2020 Stronger Together campaign will be implemented during the hurricane season between July-November 2020. It will build on the branding, key messages and communication products of the 2019 PAHO/CDB “Stronger Together” campaign, incorporating specific tips and recommendations related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This regional communication and awareness campaign aims to:
For this purpose, the campaign will convey the general principles of psychological first aid (PFA) to the general public, community leaders and essential workers. It is hoped that the information given, will help individuals and communities to anticipate, cope and recover.
Crisis situations tend to exacerbate existing vulnerabilities. Therefore, the campaign pays special attention particular groups within the general population that may be at greater risk of negative outcomes during a crisis, such as children and adolescents, women, older persons, indigenous peoples, people with pre-existing mental disorders, migrants, persons with disabilities, homeless persons and people living in shelters.
Additionally, knowledge of the different gender roles in the Caribbean has been used to develop gender-sensitive communication messages, including the different roles of men and women in the family and the community, a possible rise of gender-based violence as well as gender differences in the way in which health services are accessed.
Lastly, special attention has been payed to ensure that communication products are accessible for people with disabilities.
This campaign is focused on the following audiences:
What is mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS)?
The composite term “mental health and psychosocial support” describes any type of local or outside support that aims to protect or promote psychosocial well-being and/or prevent or treat mental disorder. The social and psychological problems encompass a broad range of pre-existing (such as extreme poverty, severe mental disorder and alcohol abuse), emergency-induced (for example, family separation, disruption of social networks and community structures, grief, depression and increased gender-based violence), or humanitarian aid-related problems (including the undermining of community structures or traditional support mechanisms and anxiety due to lack of information and disruption of livelihoods).
What is psychological first aid (PFA)?
PFA is describes a humane, supportive response to a fellow human being who is suffering and who may need support. PFA is not something that only professionals can do; it can be provided for people in a position to help others who have experienced and extremely distressing event. PFA involves the following themes:
The three basic action principles of PFA are LOOK, LISTEN and LINK. These action principles guide how to view and safely enter a crisis situation, approach affected people and understand their needs, and link them with practical support and information: