A woman wearing a Red Cross volunteer vest and talking to a shaken man in the Kuopio Market Square.

Psychological first aid

Photo: Anna-Katri Hänninen / Suomen Punainen Risti

Psychosocial support provided at the right moment helps people move forward when a sudden and unexpected crisis shakes their sense of security.

We all have situations in our lives that feel hard. A crisis can be caused by divorce, unemployment, illness, accident, death of a loved one or being the victim of a crime, for example.

Psychological first aid is a skill one can learn, just like other first aid skills. By recognising your own crisis reactions and those of others and by seeking help, you can help yourself and others cope through a crisis.

How to cope mentally in a crisis situation
Mental coping in a crisis situation
How to give psychological first aid?
Psychological first aid
How to help another person cope in a crisis
Helping others cope in a crisis situation
How to help a child or a young person in a crisis situation
Helping a child or a young person in a crisis situation

Instructions for psychosocial support in different languages