The Psych Show Yes, and the information here would've been very helpful back then. :) I now volunteer with a helpline and have been given better training, but I wish I had been prepared to deliver this type of first aid before someone (and even myself) needed it. So thanks for this video and keep doing what you do! ^^
Yes I have, and I'm glad that my intuition led me well. Sadly, I myself wasn't so lucky when I needed someone to support me through a crisis. I really think this is important information that pretty much anyone should know. Because even people who have no interest in psychology may one day find themselves in a situation where they need to help someone through a crisis like that. I know it can be damaging, if not bordering on traumatizing to be left alone, or not treated right during a crisis, because it makes an already terrifying situation even worse...
Listening to music is an absolute game changer. Distracting myself with my cats/kittens really helps as well. A cup of tea goes a longg way to cheering people up a lot of the time! Removing myself from panicky or stressful people also helps a lot... Imagining that I'm in a story or narrating mantras to myself helps me gain some perspective as well. It can be a bit disorienting to do that too much, but it helps in a crisis. With others, sometimes just being calm and accepting is the best approach, I find. Also focussing on the practical things, and repeating what they said back to them. I guess it shows I'm trying to understand and switches the thinking process from emotional panic into problem solving mode.
I have often talked people thru depression, though not normally due to recent trauma. They are in a place where it feels to them that everything is wrong and they're stuck. I find that moving from the general to the specific helps the most. So, I might ask what's happening at work or what's happening at home, by talking thru problems they mention, I can help them contain their emotions. I find that helping them get a grip on a problem can really help them feel ready to move forward. The other huge thing is to always respect them. Don't tell them to do obvious things; maybe ask what happened when they tried something. Obviously, there are times when meds are needed and more than just this kind of talk but I'm often surprised how much it can help.
Yes I have struggled with emotional issues, anxiety, and learning disabilities my whole life. I am still learning to manage it but it's gotten so much better since Jesus saved me. I find that being somone who suffers with this stuff helps me to get on others levels and try to walk in there shoes. I have also done alot of academic work in psychology in highschool and for my Criminal Justice Degree. The metal health first aid course from the national council of metal well being was great, I learned so much and it helped me put a frame work to what I had already been doing. It's not perfect but it's a great start to learning more about helping people in Crisis and preventing Crisis.
I survived double suicide with my child last 2 years ago and I have been looking for ways to help people in any way i can. Your explanations are way more direct and let us understand without difficult words! Thank you!
I truly appreciate how you explain everything in the most simple way possible, without using academic jargon. You explain things in a way that even a middle schooler would understand. Very effective communication skill. Thanks!
Thanks for this video. We need to be trained in this area. This is the type of video where you need to pause and rewind and write down key info. Because just listening to it wont help us to remember it next time. Very important as we help our loved ones
I have. I'm grateful that my education within communication arts and creative writing has made me a superb listener. I don't force my ideas or opinions on others as to what they should do. I'm just there, and I think those two words, "be there" are most important because that feeling of being alone is something that takes an already difficult situation and makes it worse. For me I try to surround myself with the people and things that are familiar so that even if I can't necessarily handle the situation, I don't have as much of that "out of body" traumatic feeling. It helps ground me, I think.
I learned a lot! I just watched this for my requirement in Disaster and Mental Health Management subject. Now, it would be easy for me to answer those situations in Psychological First Aid
Here's the thing, though: By the time people usually ask me for help, and vice versa, it's at the point of "I'm having one or more of the following: auditory/visual hallucinations, suicidal with method, homicidal, heavy breathing, been sexually assaulted; crisis line is useless; and you're not getting my address (and I could lie to the cops anyway)." I've gotten an okay response from the empathy way, connecting over the suicidal feelings we've both had. For the more morbid, discussing the process of death calms them down. But...then what? Keep an eye on them as friends, hope they see a doctor and don't die in the meantime?
I have a question about debriefing. You mentioned that getting someone to explain the events isn't helpful and we shouldn't push for it, but does that apply even if the person is actively trying to? Like, the other day, a friend of mine called me because they were having a panic attack, and they wanted to walk through the events that led to it, and I listened and let them describe things. Should I have stopped them? I feel like that might be counterproductive too, since it takes away some of the control they're trying to re-establish, but as someone who isn't an expert, I have no idea which would be worse.
12tone I hope Ali chips in because he will have a better understanding than me Personally, I think in this case it would be appropriate because the person is actively willing to talk about it, as opposed to details that could be sensitive and counterproductive for them to think about in that context. I trained to take phonecalls that would include ones of people going through a crisis, and generally we are asked to fact find to find out the situation, but not necessarily push for details if it is sensitive, ultimately we want to support the person. we want the person to be comfortable, for them to talk about what's happened if they wish, and more importantly, how they're feeling and for them to confide what they wish. Asking for specific details if not volunteered could be triggering if they are of a sensitive nature, so in those cases, I would just listen to what they wish to say, and check in on their feelings and needs. but that doesn't sound like the case with you at all, and I'd add the situation is different too between anonymous strangers and people you know well too :)
I would attend to the problem which is having the panic attack? Get them to take deep breaths? Then listen to them and take mental notes but be ready to answer questions strategically in case they ask you for advice
Great video! I do CISD's and get positive feedback for being there though sometimes no one takes advantage. I find this is okay though because I am there if they need and if not, no big deal. I still get paid! LOL But seriously, it looks good that the company cares enough to bring someone in when in a crisis. Sometimes people come up and talk to me about their lives in general. This helps them to not think of therapy as a bad thing. I push their EAP for further consideration.
This video is'nt what i expected based on the title. In college, I met two people that seemed like they really needed help. One had so much social anxiety he could barely talk and the other, was a girl who had so much insecurity that she started crying in the middle of class. I wish I could have helped them but I was'nt sure how to, thought it could be rude to ask and I am a bit shy myself. I never asked either of them. So, I am asking you: what do you think I could have done for them?
Great question! In a college environment you can express your concern and encourage the other person to visit the on campus counseling center. There, professionals are available to help. Just knowing someone else cares (i.e. you) and that there are resources available (e.g. counseling center) can go a long way towards providing psychological first aid.
Hi Dr. Ali, I recently started working on a Suicide (Crisis) Hotline. The in-house training of the organization was great, however, I would be grateful for some supplemental course material & knowledge. Are there any online courses/workshops you could recommend, or even perhaps YT videos? Thank you kindly for your guidance.
Hi there ! Again, another great and short video ! First, thanks for the references, it makes the vulgarization more interesting and we can look into things we're interested in more deeply. About how we cope with situation, I think all defenses the brain makes are really interesting but at the same time very strange. For example, denial or forgetting memories seems at large scale maybe counter-productive maybe? I personally dissociate myself to the situation in order create the emotional me and the rational, which is a defense I use to help myself or the others with rationates thoughts, optimistic point of views or careful listening. On the other, I can't imagine an international psychological first aid, what about you? Cultural interpretation, personal experiences ect... those seems like a lot variables and we end up with a pretty generic first aid kit. But how are we sure this kit will be usable for everyone?
Have you ever helped someone through a crisis? How do you cope with difficult situations?
The Psych Show Yes, and the information here would've been very helpful back then. :) I now volunteer with a helpline and have been given better training, but I wish I had been prepared to deliver this type of first aid before someone (and even myself) needed it. So thanks for this video and keep doing what you do! ^^
Yes I have, and I'm glad that my intuition led me well.
Sadly, I myself wasn't so lucky when I needed someone to support me through a crisis. I really think this is important information that pretty much anyone should know. Because even people who have no interest in psychology may one day find themselves in a situation where they need to help someone through a crisis like that.
I know it can be damaging, if not bordering on traumatizing to be left alone, or not treated right during a crisis, because it makes an already terrifying situation even worse...
Listening to music is an absolute game changer. Distracting myself with my cats/kittens really helps as well. A cup of tea goes a longg way to cheering people up a lot of the time! Removing myself from panicky or stressful people also helps a lot...
Imagining that I'm in a story or narrating mantras to myself helps me gain some perspective as well. It can be a bit disorienting to do that too much, but it helps in a crisis.
With others, sometimes just being calm and accepting is the best approach, I find. Also focussing on the practical things, and repeating what they said back to them. I guess it shows I'm trying to understand and switches the thinking process from emotional panic into problem solving mode.
I have often talked people thru depression, though not normally due to recent trauma. They are in a place where it feels to them that everything is wrong and they're stuck. I find that moving from the general to the specific helps the most. So, I might ask what's happening at work or what's happening at home, by talking thru problems they mention, I can help them contain their emotions. I find that helping them get a grip on a problem can really help them feel ready to move forward. The other huge thing is to always respect them. Don't tell them to do obvious things; maybe ask what happened when they tried something. Obviously, there are times when meds are needed and more than just this kind of talk but I'm often surprised how much it can help.
Yes I have struggled with emotional issues, anxiety, and learning disabilities my whole life. I am still learning to manage it but it's gotten so much better since Jesus saved me.
I find that being somone who suffers with this stuff helps me to get on others levels and try to walk in there shoes. I have also done alot of academic work in psychology in highschool and for my Criminal Justice Degree.
The metal health first aid course from the national council of metal well being was great, I learned so much and it helped me put a frame work to what I had already been doing.
It's not perfect but it's a great start to learning more about helping people in Crisis and preventing Crisis.
I survived double suicide with my child last 2 years ago and I have been looking for ways to help people in any way i can. Your explanations are way more direct and let us understand without difficult words! Thank you!
I truly appreciate how you explain everything in the most simple way possible, without using academic jargon. You explain things in a way that even a middle schooler would understand. Very effective communication skill. Thanks!
4:12 that gave me anxiety sir
Thanks for this video. We need to be trained in this area. This is the type of video where you need to pause and rewind and write down key info. Because just listening to it wont help us to remember it next time. Very important as we help our loved ones
I have. I'm grateful that my education within communication arts and creative writing has made me a superb listener. I don't force my ideas or opinions on others as to what they should do. I'm just there, and I think those two words, "be there" are most important because that feeling of being alone is something that takes an already difficult situation and makes it worse. For me I try to surround myself with the people and things that are familiar so that even if I can't necessarily handle the situation, I don't have as much of that "out of body" traumatic feeling. It helps ground me, I think.
This is incredibly well-worded, clear and overall really helpful. Thank you!
I learned a lot! I just watched this for my requirement in Disaster and Mental Health Management subject. Now, it would be easy for me to answer those situations in Psychological First Aid
Here's the thing, though: By the time people usually ask me for help, and vice versa, it's at the point of "I'm having one or more of the following: auditory/visual hallucinations, suicidal with method, homicidal, heavy breathing, been sexually assaulted; crisis line is useless; and you're not getting my address (and I could lie to the cops anyway)." I've gotten an okay response from the empathy way, connecting over the suicidal feelings we've both had. For the more morbid, discussing the process of death calms them down. But...then what? Keep an eye on them as friends, hope they see a doctor and don't die in the meantime?
I have a question about debriefing. You mentioned that getting someone to explain the events isn't helpful and we shouldn't push for it, but does that apply even if the person is actively trying to? Like, the other day, a friend of mine called me because they were having a panic attack, and they wanted to walk through the events that led to it, and I listened and let them describe things. Should I have stopped them? I feel like that might be counterproductive too, since it takes away some of the control they're trying to re-establish, but as someone who isn't an expert, I have no idea which would be worse.
12tone I hope Ali chips in because he will have a better understanding than me
Personally, I think in this case it would be appropriate because the person is actively willing to talk about it, as opposed to details that could be sensitive and counterproductive for them to think about in that context. I trained to take phonecalls that would include ones of people going through a crisis, and generally we are asked to fact find to find out the situation, but not necessarily push for details if it is sensitive, ultimately we want to support the person. we want the person to be comfortable, for them to talk about what's happened if they wish, and more importantly, how they're feeling and for them to confide what they wish. Asking for specific details if not volunteered could be triggering if they are of a sensitive nature, so in those cases, I would just listen to what they wish to say, and check in on their feelings and needs. but that doesn't sound like the case with you at all, and I'd add the situation is different too between anonymous strangers and people you know well too :)
I would attend to the problem which is having the panic attack? Get them to take deep breaths? Then listen to them and take mental notes but be ready to answer questions strategically in case they ask you for advice
Great video! I do CISD's and get positive feedback for being there though sometimes no one takes advantage. I find this is okay though because I am there if they need and if not, no big deal. I still get paid! LOL But seriously, it looks good that the company cares enough to bring someone in when in a crisis. Sometimes people come up and talk to me about their lives in general. This helps them to not think of therapy as a bad thing. I push their EAP for further consideration.
This video is'nt what i expected based on the title. In college, I met two people that seemed like they really needed help. One had so much social anxiety he could barely talk and the other, was a girl who had so much insecurity that she started crying in the middle of class. I wish I could have helped them but I was'nt sure how to, thought it could be rude to ask and I am a bit shy myself. I never asked either of them. So, I am asking you: what do you think I could have done for them?
Great question! In a college environment you can express your concern and encourage the other person to visit the on campus counseling center. There, professionals are available to help. Just knowing someone else cares (i.e. you) and that there are resources available (e.g. counseling center) can go a long way towards providing psychological first aid.
Thanks for Insights.
Hi! Do you have any suggestions on how to test the mental health status of an individual?
Hi Dr. Ali, I recently started working on a Suicide (Crisis) Hotline. The in-house training of the organization was great, however, I would be grateful for some supplemental course material & knowledge. Are there any online courses/workshops you could recommend, or even perhaps YT videos? Thank you kindly for your guidance.
Please tell me some practicals for students reletede to psychologgiy first e
ty rly hellful info
Hi there ! Again, another great and short video !
First, thanks for the references, it makes the vulgarization more interesting and we can look into things we're interested in more deeply.
About how we cope with situation, I think all defenses the brain makes are really interesting but at the same time very strange. For example, denial or forgetting memories seems at large scale maybe counter-productive maybe? I personally dissociate myself to the situation in order create the emotional me and the rational, which is a defense I use to help myself or the others with rationates thoughts, optimistic point of views or careful listening.
On the other, I can't imagine an international psychological first aid, what about you? Cultural interpretation, personal experiences ect... those seems like a lot variables and we end up with a pretty generic first aid kit. But how are we sure this kit will be usable for everyone?
Sir,are we constantly living in the present moment?
Sir , does PFC help human to control their sexual desire every time it occurs?
Sir please let me know your valuable remarks 🙏
Are the links you provided culturally-neutral?
does this help with people going full "karen''