Psychological and Social Support in Crisis Situations

TEACHING UNIT 1. PRINCIPLES OF GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY

1. The Concept of Personality.
2. Personality development.
3. Theories.
4. Stages of Human Development.
5. Key Features.
6. Human needs.
7. Personality defense mechanisms.
8. The most common experiences associated with the process of becoming ill (anxiety, feelings of rootlessness, feelings of worthlessness, among others).
9. Key psychological coping mechanisms for dealing with illness.

TEACHING UNIT 2. COMMUNICATION

1. Elements involved in communication. Sender. Receiver. Message. Communication channels: auditory, visual, tactile, olfactory.
2. Types of Communication. Verbal Language. Nonverbal Language.
3. Communication Challenges.
4. Messages that hinder communication.
5. Basic skills that improve interpersonal communication. The art of listening.

TEACHING UNIT 3. SOCIAL SKILLS

1. Active Listening. Negotiation. Assertiveness. Key Assertive Responses.
2. Communication Techniques and Group Dynamics.
3. The Psychology of Teamwork.
4. Group dynamics.
5. The Role of the Healthcare Professional.
6. The Patient's Role.
7. Communication between healthcare professionals and patients.
8. The helping relationship.

TEACHING UNIT 4. PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID IN DISASTERS

1. How the population behaves in the face of a disaster.
2. Reaction: shock – inhibition – stupor.
3. Panic reaction.
4. Exodus
5. Psychopathological reactions in people affected by a disaster.
6. Inappropriate emotional reaction.
7. Long-lasting neuropathological reaction.
8. Severe psychological reaction.
9. Psychological and behavioral reactions, depending on the stage of the disaster: Pre-critical stage. Crisis stage. Reaction stage. Post-critical stage.
10. Psychological Support in Disasters.
11. Principles of Psychological Care.
12. Stressors.
13. Crisis Management.
14. Containment measures.
15. Situations of Grief.
16. Stressful situations.
17. Situations Involving Aggression.
18. Situations involving anxiety and distress.
19. Functions of the psychosocial team.

TEACHING UNIT 5. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL REACTIONS OF THE PARTICIPANTS

1. Psychological support.
2. Objectives of Psychological Support.
3. Major stressors.
4. Stress.
5. Burn Syndrome.
6. Secondary traumatization.
7. Psychological support techniques for first responders.
8. Mutual assistance technique (buddy system).
9. Emotional release techniques and coping with critical situations (defusing or debriefing).
10. Stress Management Techniques.