Launch of the PAHO/CDB Virtual Self-Learning Course Psychological First Aid (PFA) in disaster management in the Caribbean

Background

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) will on Friday, October 4th, launch a virtual course to equip volunteers, first responders and persons in the community to provide the initial response to individuals experiencing psychological distress after a crisis.
The ten-hour, self-learning course is available free of cost on the Caribbean node of PAHO’s Virtual Campus for Public Health at www.campusvirtualsp.org. It covers the principal areas of understanding PFA, how to help responsibly, providing PFA, people who likely need special attention, caring for self and colleagues, and practicing PFA skills. PFA is describes a humane, supportive response to a fellow human being who is suffering and who may need support. It is not something that only professionals can do and can be provided for people in a position to help others who have experienced a distressing event. Upon finalization of the training and final exam, participants receive a course completion certificate, issued by PAHO and CDB.

This virtual course is part of a joint project by PAHO and CDB entitled "Building individual and social resilience to cope with the impacts of natural hazard events: enhancing capacity for mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in disaster management in the Caribbean". This 18-month project aims to enhance regional capacity to provide MHPSS in disaster management in the Caribbean, and includes building regional capacity for MHPSS in disaster management; strengthening in-country competencies to conduct needs assessments and action plans; developing and implementing a regional communication campaign; and conducting monitoring and evaluation of the project.