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This course equips learners in developing a personal understanding of the effects of stress, loss, trauma and grief.

Psychological First Aid

Psychological First Aid

This course equips learners in developing a personal understanding of the effects of stress, loss, trauma and grief.

The Canadian Red Cross Psychological First Aid program is about taking care of yourself - your thoughts, feelings and emotions when you have experienced stress, crisis or trauma - and then being there for family, friends and community when they are having difficulty coping.

Learn how to anticipate stress and crisis whenever possible and equip yourself with the skillset to practice self-care and to provide care for others during particularly challenging times. Unlike mental health first aid, which trains people how to help someone during a mental health emergency, Red Cross Psychological First Aid teaches you how to build up resiliency to stress and establish coping strategies for stress and trauma.

Two Psychological First Aid courses are available online to learn at your own pace: Self-Care and Caring for Others. In both these courses, learn the impact of stress, trauma, and grief while developing useful tools for handling difficult situations. These online courses are quick, accessible and practical, equipping you with skills you can use in daily life.

The instructor-led Psychological First Aid course is more substantive and flexible, and will help you gain a deeper understanding of the Red Cross Look, Listen, Link, Live model - this means having awareness that there is a problem, listening to yourself or others, and linking to resources in your community so you can live fully.

You'll also learn Psychological First Aid using the principle of Do No Harm, which refers to the unintentional harm that may be caused to those who are meant to benefit from your intervention.

Full Course Length 8 hours

Course Details

Topics Covered

Psychological First Aid includes:

  • Introduction to the Canadian Red Cross
  • Case Studies
  • Psychological First Aid
  • Operational Principles
  • Stress/Distress
  • Loss and Grief
  • Trauma
  • Indicators
  • Vulnerable Populations
  • Supportive Communication
  • Look, Listen, Link, Live
  • Resiliency and Protective Factors
  • Protection
  • Policies and Legislation
  • Self-Care

FAQs

What are the five steps of psychological first aid?

The 5 elements of Psychological First Aid are Safety, Calm, Connectedness, Self and Group Efficacy, and Hope. Just as important as these 5 elements are the things which are NOT part of Psychological First Aid, and can lead to serious harm if approached by a non-expert. Key things to AVOID in Psychological First Aid are: obtaining details of the trauma, diagnosing, treatment, and debriefing of a trauma.

What is psychological first aid?

Psychological First Aid is the humane, supportive, and practical response to people suffering from a crisis.

What are the basic objectives of psychological first aid?

The goal of Psychological First Aid is to help people in crisis identify and access the resources they need to help themselves, from basic services, family, friends and community, to focused supports and specialized services.

Certification

Canadian Red Cross certificates are now virtual! You will receive a temporary certificate at the end of your course, and a permanent virtual certificate will be emailed to you after you've successfully completed the course. You will be able to view your manual and certification online at any time through your MyRedCross account. Certification is valid for 3 years.

Training Schedules & Locations
There are no certification classes at this time. Please check back.

Materials

Emergency First Aid & CPR Manual

The Psychological First Aid course includes the following materials:

  • Canadian Red Cross Psychological First Aid Workbook (hard copy)
  • Look, Listen, Link, Live cards

The Alert Advantage

Free Manual + App

Deep Discounts

3-Year Guarantee

Replacement certs

Learn More

Who should take this course?

  • All audiences (youth/workplace/professional responder/etc.)

Looking for a group class?

If you have a group of people and would like us to come to you to teach a
Psychological First Aid course, we offer this course in the following locations:

Victoria | Langford | Esquimalt | Sooke | Cobble Hill | Mill Bay | Duncan | Lake Cowichan | Cedar | Ladysmith | Nanaimo | Parksville | Qualicum Beach | Port Alberni | Coombs | Parksville | Campbell River | Saltspring Island | Pender Island | Powell River | Gabriola Isand | Burnaby | Coquitlam | Delta | Langley | Maple Ridge | New Westminster | North Vancouver | Pitt Meadows | Port Moody | Richmond | Surrey | Vancouver | West Vancouver | White Rock | Langley |

Give us a call at 1.866.282.5378, or send us an email at to arrange a group course.

Very hands on course which made learning very helpful in real life situations! Awesome course + teacher!!

Emma Leonhardt Standard First Aid, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

"I really enjoyed the pace of this course, not having to write a written exam was a bonus and I got more out of the 50 questions by using the book to check for information than having to worry about a test! Thank you!"

Louise Takhar Standard First-Aid and CPR-C, Victoria, B.C. More Testimonials

Gary used relevant examples & situations to teach us proper CPR. He is a great instructor! I like how we learned both adult and baby CPR and it was very hands on.

Kaitlyn CPR, Nanaimo, BC More Testimonials

Perfect teaching! Interactive – even fun! Informative – repetitive – won’t forget material taught because basics are so reinforced and superfluous left out.

Anny Ruch Standard First Aid, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

This is the best CPR course I have ever taken in 55 years of nursing & I highly recommend it. The instructors teaching abilities are excellent!!!

Lois Mesner RN CPR, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

"Jason did a great job teaching. I plan on recommending him to our manager for out next group recertification."

Deanna Elliot Standard First-Aid Recertification, Victoria, B.C. More Testimonials

Amazing, you made it fun and enjoyable for all! I learned more than I expected to! Thanks!

Stephanie Dion CPR C, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

Good times had by all. Chris was very good at conveying his knowledge.

Jon CPR, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

Hi, I took a cpr-c course from instructor Ashley this September.  I am an RN and so have had to take very many first aid courses in the past.  I would like to say that I was shuffled on to your organization because the original course i was going to take was cancelled and they gave me your company name.  When I called I had a good conversation with someone who seemed very on top of things and knew how to give me directions and this person was very practical and seemed to know exactly the kind of cpr-c course I would need.  I had never had this happen before... the the person on the other end of the phone actually sounded excited about first aid and that was a first for me.  The course was easy to find and was exactly where I was told it would be with big signs out front to direct me and that was awesome.  I was not given a hard time for not doing a lot of prereading (I hardly ever do the prereading as I have reading comprehension issues and am more a kinesthetic learner).  We had this instructor named Ashley and as I work in mental health I quietly decided that she must have some low grade adhd diagnosis... I guess you would think that this would be a bad thing... but it was an awesome quality.  She made the course really a lot of fun and it was the very first cpr course where I have not fallen asleep... seriously!  I totally remember how to do cpr now and that is the first time I have taken a course and actually remembered stuff you know.  So thank you.  I will only take cpr courses from your outfit from now on.  I really think you guys got it going on.

 

 

Liz

Liz Ringrose CPR C Recertification, Victoria More Testimonials

Best first aid course I have taken - mainly due to the instructor. He kept us engaged by getting us to think & answer first.

Marisa Wiens Standard First Aid, Victoria, BC More Testimonials
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