EMERGENCY PSYCHOLOGY for nursing students

education

1. EMERGENCY PSYCHOLOGY RDM 311 Instructor Mr. Thaddeus

2. Introduction Emergency psychology is the study and application of psychological principles in emergency, crisis, and disaster situations, focusing on how individuals and communities react, cope, and recover during and after traumatic events. Emergency psychology is the branch of psychology that focuses on understanding, managing, and supporting the emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses of individuals and communities during and after emergencies, crises, and disasters. It deals with how people think, feel, and behave in crisis situations and how healthcare workers can provide immediate psychological support to reduce trauma, enhance resilience, and promote recovery. According to international guidelines, emergency psychology is the practice of providing psychological support and crisis intervention during emergencies to reduce distress, foster safety and calmness, and promote adaptive functioning and recovery.

3. Clinical Perspective For healthcare workers, emergency psychology refers to the integration of mental health support into emergency care, ensuring that patients, families, and staff receive emotional stabilization, clear communication, and coping assistance alongside physical treatment. Emergency psychology is the application of psychological principles and interventions to provide immediate support for people experiencing acute stress, trauma, or crisis situations, with the aim of preventing long-term psychological harm. Disaster & Crisis Context Emergency psychology deals with the study of human reactions under extreme stress, such as natural disasters, accidents, wars, or pandemics, and provides tools like psychological first aid (PFA), crisis intervention, and resilience training

4. What is an Emergency Situation? An emergency situation is a sudden, unexpected event that poses an immediate threat to life, health, property, or the environment, requiring urgent action to prevent worsening outcomes. Any event that threatens life or health and requires immediate action to save lives, prevent harm, or reduce damage. Key Features of an Emergency Situation Sudden Onset – occurs quickly and often without warning. Immediate Risk – threatens life, safety, or essential services. Need for Rapid Response – requires quick decision-making and intervention. High Stress Environment – causes fear, confusion, and emotional distress. Limited Time and Resources – demands effective prioritization (e.g., triage in healthcare).

5. Examples in Healthcare and Nursing Medical Emergencies: heart attack, stroke, respiratory failure, severe bleeding. Accidents & Injuries: road traffic accidents, burns, falls, poisoning. Disasters: earthquakes, floods, fires, pandemics. Violence & Security Threats: armed conflict, terrorism, mass casualty events. Difference Between Emergency and Disaster Emergency → A critical situation that can usually be managed with local resources (e.g., cardiac arrest in a hospital). Disaster → A large-scale emergency that overwhelms local resources and requires external assistance (e.g., earthquake destroying a city).

6. Main Goals of Emergency Psychology During Emergencies Ensure Safety and Stability Reduce panic, fear, and chaos. Help individuals feel physically and emotionally safe. Provide Immediate Psychological Support Offer Psychological First Aid (PFA) to reduce acute stress. Stabilize emotional reactions (shock, fear, grief). Promote Adaptive Coping Encourage calm, rational decision-making under stress. Teach simple coping skills (breathing, grounding techniques). Prevent Long-Term Psychological Problems Reduce the risk of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Early intervention helps minimize chronic mental health consequences.

7. Support Communication and Information Sharing Provide clear, honest, and timely information to reduce uncertainty. Counter rumors, misinformation, and panic behaviors. Strengthen Social Support and Resilience Connect individuals with family, community, and health resources. Encourage teamwork and mutual support during crisis. Assist Vulnerable Populations Give extra care to children, elderly, disabled, and those with pre-existing mental health conditions. Ensure no group is left behind. Support First Responders and Healthcare Workers Prevent burnout and compassion fatigue. Provide stress management and emotional support for staff.

8. In a summary, the main goals of emergency psychology are to reduce immediate distress, protect mental health, support adaptive coping, and build resilience, ensuring both survivors and responders can recover and function effectively during and after emergencies.

9. Key Concepts Stress and Crisis Reactions Acute Stress Response (“fight, flight, freeze”) – the body’s immediate reaction to threat. Crisis Reaction Phases – shock, denial, emotional response, reorganization. Psychological First Aid (PFA) – providing immediate emotional support and stabilization. Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Critical Incident Stress – intense psychological distress after emergencies. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – long-term impact of trauma. Resilience and Recovery – factors that help individuals adapt after trauma.

10. Cognitive and Emotional Responses in Emergencies Fear, anxiety, confusion, and helplessness. Risk perception and decision-making under stress. Panic behavior vs. adaptive coping strategies. Psychological Needs in Emergencies Safety and Security – establishing a sense of physical and emotional safety. Information – clear, honest communication reduces fear and uncertainty. Support Systems – family, peers, community, and professional help

11. Vulnerable Populations Certain groups are more at-risk during emergencies: Children and adolescents Elderly People with pre-existing mental health conditions Healthcare workers and first responders Role of Healthcare Professionals Recognizing early signs of psychological distress. Providing emotional stabilization and reassurance. Referring patients for specialized mental health care when needed. Supporting team resilience and preventing burnout

12. Psychological First Aid (PFA) Principles The WHO and Red Cross recommend: Look – assess safety, needs, and risks. Listen – hear concerns, fears, and priorities. Link – connect people with information, services, and support. Long-Term Considerations Community mental health recovery programs. Prevention of chronic psychological issues (e.g., PTSD, depression). Building resilience through preparedness and training.