what ‘psychological first aid’ is like in RS

In the first hours of the disaster, says the psychologist, professionals work with psychological first aid. “It’s not an interpretative approach, it’s not making the person think about the disaster or reflect on it. The person is in shock, so the first psychological care is part of a psychosocial line, of listening and welcoming, collecting information to address their basic needs. “

During one interview, for example, a person told me that she hadn’t drunk water for days, so we went to provide that for her. Another guy was devastated about leaving his dog, so we went to animal shelter organizations to find out more. It’s listening to the other’s pain, without falling apart together.

In situations of calamity and public emergency, the work of mental health professionals is very different of individual consultations in reserved offices, explains the psychologist.

This idea of ​​psychology as the person who works in the office is very small. This is just a part. There are many professionals who work in homeless population centers, for example.
Marina Pombo

‘Understand what they want to say’

Luciana Fossi, a psychologist at Caps de Dois Irmãos, has been helping homeless people in the neighboring municipality, São Leopoldo. “First, they went to a place where they could receive clothes and hygiene kits, take a shower and receive an assessment from the nursing team. I had contact later, when they arrived at their permanent accommodation, without the first shock of the situation.”