More than 900 people in 14 remote communities in Armenia were trained to provide basic psychosocial support during health emergencies. Ensuring that community members are prepared to act as first responders in any health emergency is of vital importance to an effective preparedness and response strategy.
The main objective of the training was to equip frontline community members, such as doctors, nurses, teachers and caregivers, with the skills and knowledge to support people exposed to extreme stress in emergency situations.
“Very often, you see that a person is stressed but you are in doubt about how you can best help them. Thanks to the training, I now have the necessary skills to give the right kind of first assistance,” said Yana Melikyan, a nurse in the village of Azat. “This is vital, especially in a remote village like ours, where first aid is provided on the spot, before someone can be referred to professional services if needed.”
Participants were shown how to assess situations and common reactions to crises, how to approach and calm someone in distress, and how to provide emotional support and practical help. These skills help them to enhance their own resilience as well as the resilience of the community at large.
The training sessions followed an exploratory WHO field mission to 3 affected regions in September 2022. The mission observed immediate health needs, mainly among rural, remote communities that are underserved and unprepared to offer psychological first aid during health emergencies.
The training sessions were implemented in partnership with the Armenian Psychoanalytical Association, the civil society organization AMBRA Mental Well Being Center, and regional authorities.