Psychological first aid course prepares individuals to respond to traumatic experiences

GREENVILLE — When a life-altering natural disaster, public health emergency, or other crisis strikes, everyone involved is affected by it. Some people may even experience painful and debilitating emotional distress. Psychological first aid provides support in the immediate aftermath to reduce the short and long-term impact of the trauma. It has even proven to be effective when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis at any time.

Northern Light CA Dean Hospital is offering two free training sessions this summer for individuals who would like to learn to provide psychological first aid. First responders including healthcare workers, law enforcement, and firefighters; educators and school staff; and others involved in disaster relief can benefit most from being trained in psychological first aid.

Developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and the National Center for PTSD, psychological first aid has been used by the American Red Cross, first responders, and law enforcement to train staff on how to respond to collective trauma experiences.

The four-hour course will be offered on June 28 from 1 to 5 p.m. and again on Aug. 8 from 8 a.m. to noon at Northern Light CA Dean Hospital. For more information and to register, please contact Kate Perkins at 207-695-5267 or kbperkins@northernlight.org.