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K1 DIRECT completes psychosocial support in disasters training.

k1training03092019PHILIPSBURG:--- Eight volunteer members of K1 Britannia Foundation’s Disaster Relief and Crisis Team - K1 DIRECT recently received a two-day psychosocial training facilitated by Inspired – Psychology Practice and Consultancy and the St. Maarten & Netherlands Red Cross. The two-day training delved into aspects of psychosocial support including team well being, self-care, prevention and communications within and outside of disaster and crisis situations. The training was given by Psychologists Caroline van Oost and Sanne Gruijters of Inspired, a Psychology practice and consultancy, based on St. Maarten.

During day one of the training, K1 DIRECT received an understanding of psychosocial support, where they had an opportunity to make their own personal stress management plan which was linked to peer support and organizations support, and how they can utilize support from a partner. This component introduced participants to different opportunities in which team members and managers can support and promote a healthy working environment that helps to protect against staff burn-out. The team also received insight into how different people experience and express distress, as well as the cultural implications and expressions of distress, something particularly important when considering working in or with different cultures.

In day two of the training, participants examined how psychosocial knowledge and support can be integrated into different front line activities, such as shelter management, distribution, and search and rescue.

Five essential principles of post-disaster psychosocial care are incorporated into these front line activities, which are to promote a sense of safety, calming, self- and community efficacy, social connectedness, and hope. Participants also learned how to implement psychosocial first aid frameworks such as look-listen-link, and non-violent communication, which focuses on observing behaviors and responding appropriately during a disaster situation.

Iris Hakkens, K1 DIRECT Program Manager, reflected on the training by saying, “I really appreciated how the training covered psychosocial aspects on every level including, individual, peer, and organizational points. We also received important resources, which not only can be applied to disaster situations but also, in a general sense, like stress management. The training provided us with information that we can implement within affected populations after a crisis, but also information that can be applied to ourselves as disaster responders.”
Sanne Gruijters, Psychologist and Managing Director, Inspired added, “It was a fruitful training where K1 DIRECT received a lot of information that can be implemented into its own psychosocial management plan within crisis situations. The aim of the training was to enable K1 staff and K1 DIRECT volunteers to use basic psychosocial competencies within the framework of their anticipated disaster functions. It was designed for them specifically by Inspired with support and funding by the Red Cross The Netherlands & St. Maarten. It was a great learning experience, related to self-care, communication techniques, de-escalation methods, community engagement and important guidelines from research and experiences after disasters. Three words they will not forget will inspire them in their work: Look, Listen & Link!”
For more information about K1 Britannia Foundation and K1 DIRECT, visit their website www.k1britanniafoundation.org, send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit their Facebook www.facebook.com/k1sxm.

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