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Johns Hopkins University

Psychological First Aid

Johns Hopkins University via Coursera

Overview

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Learn to provide psychological first aid to people in an emergency by employing the RAPID model: Reflective listening, Assessment of needs, Prioritization, Intervention, and Disposition.

Utilizing the RAPID model (Reflective listening, Assessment of needs, Prioritization, Intervention, and Disposition), this specialized course provides perspectives on injuries and trauma that are beyond those physical in nature. The RAPID model is readily applicable to public health settings, the workplace, the military, faith-based organizations, mass disaster venues, and even the demands of more commonplace critical events, e.g., dealing with the psychological aftermath of accidents, robberies, suicide, homicide, or community violence. In addition, the RAPID model has been found effective in promoting personal and community resilience.

Participants will increase their abilities to:
- Discuss key concepts related to PFA
- Listen reflectively
- Differentiate benign, non-incapacitating psychological/ behavioral crisis reactions from more severe, potentially incapacitating, crisis reactions
- Prioritize (triage) psychological/ behavioral crisis reactions
- Mitigate acute distress and dysfunction, as appropriate
- Recognize when to facilitate access to further mental health support
- Practice self-care

Developed in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Open Education Lab.

Syllabus

  • Introduction
    • In this first week, we have some materials to get you oriented, a pre-course survey, two lectures on history and terms and concepts and a simulated look at PFA in action.
  • Reflective Listening/Rapport
    • This week, we'll be looking more closely at the R component of our RAPID model.
  • Assessment and Prioritization
    • This week, we'll be looking more closely at the A and P components of our RAPID model. A stands for Assessment, and P stands for Prioritization.
  • Intervention and Disposition
    • This week, we'll be looking more closely at the I and D components of our RAPID model in Lectures 7 and 8, respectively. I stands for Intervention, and D stands for Disposition.
  • Self-Care and Wrap-Up
    • Now that we've gone through the entire RAPID model, we'll turn our intention to you, the provider.

Taught by

George Everly

Reviews

4.4 rating, based on 50 Class Central reviews

4.8 rating at Coursera based on 19093 ratings

Start your review of Psychological First Aid

  • A really helpful course both for disaster workers etc, and simply for improving your ability to help and support people. Highly recommended!
  • A nice and concise introduction to psychological first aid, a course which I took purely out of interest (having 0 background in the field) and I really enjoyed the experience. George Everly Jr takes a lot of care to explain all of the concepts very…
  • It was a very concise and interesting course. I had taken it as I am in ministry work and felt that this would be helpful as we have had three fires in my area that had devastated small towns and big city and had no idea how I could help. I am hoping that I don't ever have to use this skill but it is great to have it.
  • Profile image for Josie Conti
    Josie Conti
    Curso breve, mas com uma riqueza de demonstrações práticas que podem fazer toda a diferença em situações de crise. Fiquei muito feliz por tê-lo encontrado e recomendo sem hesitar. Conteúdo que enriquece e amplia nosso olhar. Josie Conti, psicóloga
  • This course is eye-opening in the sense that it shows that anyone can make a difference in the lives of acute event survivors even in seemingly-"little" ways such as rendering systematic and appropriate psychological first aid. The RAPID model emphasizes community involvement since even non-professionals can do it as long as they are compassionate and conscientious.
  • I'd say that the best part about this course is that they show you the "right" and the "wrong" choices made in a scenario. I only took this because I'm interested in psychology but I found a lot of techniques I can use even in day-to-day scenarios.
  • This was an immensely practical and straightforward introduction to psychological first aid which incorporated a robust and easy to implement framework for providing PFA. Very highly recommended!!
  • This course provides a foundation in the John Hopkins' model of psychological first aid. Courses like these though require a lot of practical knowledge and experiences.
  • Profile image for Star Ringhillard
    Star Ringhillard
    This course should be mandatory for anyone who intends to help others in the case of a disaster. People go into shock and need someone who is empathetic n compassionate. This course helps give the caregiver confidence to approach someone in trouble. Excellent course.
  • Armando Vazquez Mena
    Great course for people who want to know how to help other in distress. I fantastic to have the desire and will to help when is needed, but it's also important to know how to do it.

    The course is clear and understandable, with lots of useful information that can even be apply in our daily life.

    I totally recommend it!
  • Profile image for Anna D
    Anna D
    This is a good introductory course to psychological aid. It equips you with valuable insights on how to rapidly assess emergency situations, and how to provide emotional support and relief to affected people. Then, takes it a step further and offer…
  • Thanks to Dr George.Everly Jr Phd for bringing out the course in a well organized nutshell covering many aspects of application and scope Of psychological First Aid which includes various techniques of learning such as Videos, Case Vignette, Simula…
  • Anonymous
    I really enjoyed this course. The professor was easy to understand and seem to generally enjoy teaching the subject. It was quick and easy. It also sparked my interest to volunteer or help others around me. The course was entertaining and informative. I felt like I really learned a lot! I recommend this for anyone and everyone regardless of your career or passion to help others. You never know... this could help you!
  • Profile image for Ejaz Sikander Khan
    Ejaz Sikander Khan
    this was my first time i tried to learn about psychology first i find it boring and difficult
    i thought it not my up of tea but when i saw 3rd video and realized the importance of this course i started spending more and more time on watching course videos and try to study notes
    i found during this course our words can heal our words have hidden magic !
  • Agor Grace
    Brief and straight forward information...pschological first aid has become more effect due to more awareness in communities.Eveyone is expected to acquire basic skills
  • Profile image for Hazal
    Hazal
    Easy and enjoyable course suitable for people with no background in the area. George is a very good instructor and explains really well the concept and the RAPID model of psychological first aid. I recommend this course to everyone.
  • George Ralekgokgo
    My review about the course is quite simple psychology first aid is the knowledge we all need at the time of need, from homes, schools, and in the community
  • Suhaila Ahmadi
    this couse is going to help me alot. it including very good subject. I will get good information, subsequently I can use it in the necessary time.
  • Md Akhlaque Hussain
    I like the course because I can help those traumatized people whose lives are pitiable.Best way to serve humanity particularly in the crisis hours of dreaded disease, Corona.The neighbour & the whole world are sufferer.I want to console them, providing extra energy through applying this course so that they become able to face the trauma with mental wellness
  • Vicente Saldanha
    Creio ser de vital importância a compreensão da situação psicologica apresentada no momento da crise pois nos possibilita na compreensão não somente da situação externo (da consciência ), mas sibretudo, da situação intra psiquica, ou seja, a compreensão dos conteudos inconscientes que atormentam a vida psíquica.

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