Connect & Empower

Connect and Empower (www.ptsd.va.gov’s PFA Training Manual, Version 2, pp. 69-72)

Connect

Goal

Help establish brief or ongoing contacts with family, friends, and neighbors.

“Social support is related to emotional well-being and recovery following disaster and terrorism. People who are well connected to others are more likely to engage in supportive activities (both receiving and giving support) that assist with disaster recovery.” (p. 69)

If individuals are disconnected from their social support network, encourage them to make use of immediately available sources of social support (family, friends, neighbors, PFA relief workers), while being respectful of individual preferences.

Discuss Support-Seeking and Giving

If individuals are reluctant to seek support, there may be many reasons, including:

• Not knowing what they need (and perhaps feeling that they should know).
• Feeling embarrassed or weak because of needing help.
• Feeling guilty about receiving help when others are in greater need.
• Not knowing where to turn for help.
• Worrying that they will be a burden or depress others.
• Fearing that they will get so upset that they will lose control.
• Doubting that support will be available or helpful.
• Thinking, “No one can understand what I’m going through.”
• Having tried to get help and finding that help wasn’t there (feeling let down or betrayed).
• Fearing that the people they ask will be angry or make them feel guilty for needing help.
• In helping survivors to appreciate the value of social support and to engage with others, you may need to address some of the above concerns.

For those who have become withdrawn or socially isolated, you can be of assistance by helping them to:

• Think about the type of support that would be most helpful.
• Think about whom they can approach for that type of support.
• Choose the right time and place to approach the person.
• Talk to the person and explain how they can be of help.
• Afterwards, thank the person for their time and help.

Let survivors know that, following a disaster, some people choose not to talk about their experiences, and that spending time with close friends or family without talking can feel good. For example, you might say:

• “Maybe it would help just to be with the people you feel close to. It might be helpful to talk about what each of you has been through...You don’t have to talk about everything that occurred, only what you choose to share with each person.”

• “When something really upsetting like this happens, even if you don’t feel like talking, be sure to ask for what you need.”

Empower

Goal

Equip individuals to help those around them

For survivors who express a desire to help and support others, you can help them to:

• Identify ways that they can be helpful to others (volunteer in the shelter or community, help children or older adults).
• Identify a person or persons that they can help.
• Find an uninterrupted time and place to talk or to help them.
• Show interest, attention, and care.
• Offer to talk or spend time together as many times as needed.

The focus should not be on discussing disaster-related experiences or loss with others (except in rare situations), but rather on providing other with practical assistance and helping them problem-solve current needs and concerns.

Empowering Resources

Below are some links which may help survivors better picture how they may support those in need around them. Copying and pasting these videos and guides into a chat conversation could be very helpful. Whether now or later, be sure to familiarize yourself with these resources so you can know when they will be helpful to recommend to survivors.

• Quick, simple videos on PFA steps for helping one’s neighbors (Great place to start.)
• A guide on talking your children through a disaster (If they have kids, this is a must.)
• Easy tips on how to help and how not to help (Gives the most helpful, basic advice.)
• A nice overview of Psychological First Aid (All the important, fast facts)