For professionals
Training, ethical principles, self-care and protocols for psychologists, counsellors, social workers, health workers, teachers and field volunteers.
6.2
Ethical principles
- Do no harm: every intervention is assessed in advance for possible harm.
- Informed consent and voluntariness.
- Confidentiality and its limits — explained openly.
- Working within one’s competence; referring when needed.
- Non-discrimination, political neutrality.
- Never using the images or stories of those supported without consent.
6.3
Caring for responders and secondary traumatisation
Those who witness others’ suffering are affected too. This is not a professional failure but the nature of the work; the response is organisational, not individual: rotation, supervision, peer support.
6.4
Protocols
- Psychological first aid A step-by-step framework for non-specialist volunteers. Handbook
- Child-friendly space Set-up, safeguarding and daily routine. Protocol
- Psychosocial needs assessment form A structured assessment for field teams. Form
- School preparedness curriculum Three lesson plans for teachers. Curriculum
For the public
The same topics, for the public
Plain-language guides you can share with clients and families are in For the public.
References
Where the information on this page comes from
- A section dedicated to professionals
- American Psychological Association. Disaster mental health information for psychologists. apa.org
- Training calendar and reference-centre model
- IFRC. Reference centres. ifrc.org
- IFRC. Mental health and psychosocial support. ifrc.org
- Basis of the protocols
- WHO, War Trauma Foundation and World Vision International (2011). Psychological First Aid: Guide for Field Workers. who.int
- Inter-Agency Standing Committee (2007). IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings. interagencystandingcommittee.org
- WHO and UNHCR (2015). mhGAP Humanitarian Intervention Guide. who.int