PCK | Psychosocial Support

Whole Poland

Whole Poland
mazovia
subcarpathian
west pomerania
kuyavian-pomeranian
opole voivodeship
lodz voivodeship
silesian
podlaskie
greater poland
warmian-masurian
holy cross
pomeranian
malopolska
lubusz voivodeship
lublin voivodeship
lower silesian

We support children and adults - victims of conflicts and disasters, migrants, and all those who need psychological help. We educate volunteers, employees, and partners of the Polish Red Cross.

Wsparcie psychospołeczne

Polski Czerwony Krzyż prowadzi szereg działań skupiających się na dobrostanie psychicznym. Dotyczą one zdrowia psychicznego i wsparcia psychospołecznego (MHPSS), w tym opartego na zasobach społeczności (CB MHPSS), a także pierwszej pomocy psychologicznej.

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)
MHPSS (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support) is a term relating to activities in the field of mental health and psychosocial support, aimed at helping people improve their well-being, prevent mental health issues, and treat them.

Mental Health and Community-Based Psychosocial Support (CB MHPSS)
CB MHPSS (Community-Based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support) is an approach that focuses on mental health and psychosocial support based on community resources. It includes activities aimed at supporting individuals and groups in coping with difficult situations while utilizing local resources, structures, and knowledge. This approach promotes community autonomy in addressing psychosocial issues, enabling more sustainable and lasting assistance.

Psychological First Aid (PFA)
This is a way to provide support to individuals in distress, helping them to calm down and feel supported as they face their challenges. The foundation of psychological first aid is caring for the distressed person: paying attention to their reactions, actively listening, and, if necessary, providing practical assistance and connecting them with other forms of help.
PFA Skills: how to assess the situation; what common reactions to crisis events are; how to approach a person in distress; how to calm someone who needs it; how to provide emotional support and practical assistance.

Activities under MHPSS / CBMHPSS

Integrative classes for adults
Integration classes aim to build social bonds, improve the well-being of participants, and create a space for exchanging experiences. Through these meetings, participants can feel more connected to the group, which fosters a sense of community and support. The program may include workshops, discussions, interpersonal exercises, and other forms of activities that help in building relationships as well as developing communication and emotional skills.

Workshops for beneficiaries on coping with stress and building mental resilience
These workshops aim to equip participants with practical tools and strategies to support coping with difficult emotions, stress, and challenges of everyday life. During the sessions, beneficiaries learn relaxation techniques, ways to regulate emotions, and methods for strengthening mental resilience. The training helps in better understanding one’s reactions to stress and crisis situations, as well as supports the development of skills that allow for more effective functioning in new life conditions.

Art therapeutic classes for children
Conducting art therapeutic classes for children aims to support their emotional, social, and cognitive development. Through various forms of artistic expression, such as painting, drawing, modeling, music, or dance, children have a chance to safely express their emotions, experiences, and thoughts. Art therapy helps in dealing with difficult emotions while developing creativity, imagination, and social skills. Such classes also promote self-esteem, improve communication skills, and help children cope with emotional problems in an accessible and understandable way.

Social and cultural activities with an MHPSS component
Social and cultural activities, such as trips to the zoo or museum, aim to provide participants with opportunities for relaxation, entertainment, and integration. Such events foster the building of bonds and improving psychosocial well-being, as well as play an important role in the adaptation and integration process in a new environment, especially for people with experiences of migration and refugeehood. Learning about Polish culture and traditions through shared experiences can help participants better understand the local social context and feel a sense of belonging to the community. With the MHPSS component, these activities are tailored to the psychological needs of participants, helping to reduce stress and improve overall well-being.

Activities supporting the team of employees (e.g., training "How to take care of mental health in the workplace")
These activities aim to strengthen the mental well-being and motivation of the team, as well as to build a supportive and friendly work environment. They include workshops and training on mental health care, stress management, and preventing burnout. Such activities encourage better communication, increase employees' mental resilience, and help maintain a balance between professional and personal life.

Providing individual psychological support
Psychological support aims to provide short-term assistance in dealing with emotional difficulties, stress, and adaptation to new conditions. It is not long-term therapy but a form of support focused on current needs and challenges faced by the beneficiaries. Meetings are designed to provide a safe space for conversation, offer support, strengthen personal resources, and discuss coping strategies in difficult situations. If necessary, individuals requiring more specialized help can be referred to appropriate institutions and specialists.

SWIPEorCLICK

Psychoeducational and integrative activities for children

Their aim is to develop emotional, social, and cognitive skills in a safe and supportive atmosphere. Each of the topics develops key competencies that help children cope better with the challenges of everyday life and shape interpersonal abilities.

Community building: “Our shared space” – the activities focus on integrating the group, promoting cooperation, mutual respect, and joint actions in creating a harmonious environment.
Emotional education: “My feelings” – children learn to recognize and express their emotions, which is the foundation of emotional health and building positive relationships with others.
Well-being and coping: “Good well-being” – the activities help children identify what affects their sense of well-being and what techniques they can use to better cope with stress and difficult emotions.

Social Support: “My Family and Friends” – children learn to appreciate the role of loved ones, understanding how important mutual support is in difficult times.
Understanding Others: “Being a Good Friend” – activities develop empathy and social skills, helping children better understand others and build healthy friendships.
Protection and Boundaries: “My Safety” – children learn how to take care of their safety, set boundaries, and react in situations that may be disturbing.
Relying on One's Own Strength: “All My Support” – activities help children recognize their inner strength, teaching them to rely on their skills and resources in the face of difficulties.

SWIPEorCLICK

Training in psychological first aid

Expand

The training on psychological first aid is an intense, full-day training for individuals who want to understand what PFA is and learn how to provide it effectively.

Psychological first aid (PFA) is a set of skills and behaviors that enables support for people in difficult life situations. Once you master these skills, you can use them in both personal and professional life, as well as in crisis situations. Stressful situations can be both individual and personal (e.g., divorce, loss of a loved one) and mass (natural disasters, humanitarian crises).

When we experience terrifying or stressful events, our body, thoughts, and feelings react in a natural way. Each person experiences difficult situations differently. During the training, participants will learn about typical reactions to stressful events and the principles of PFA: Look, Listen, Link. They will practice key skills, such as calming individuals in high stress and active listening.

Some individuals may need support that goes beyond the scope of psychological first aid. Therefore, during the training, participants will learn to recognize situations that require more specialized help.

During the training, participants will learn:

what psychological first aid is,
which events can trigger high stress,
what the typical reactions to stressful events are,
what the "Look, Listen, Link" method consists of and how to apply it,
how to recognize individuals in need of help and their emotional reactions,
how to effectively calm individuals in high stress,
which active listening techniques are most effective,
how to connect individuals with support and assistance networks.

During the training, participants:
will take part in practical exercises, including PFA role-playing scenarios,
will analyze complex situations and reactions in the context of providing psychological first aid,
will face challenges related to providing PFA,
will learn ways to take care of their own well-being before and after providing help.

Training in psychological first aid for children

Expand

Psychological first aid training for children is a full-day training designed for individuals who want to learn what PFA is and understand the specifics of providing it to children. It will be particularly beneficial for those who work daily with children, such as teachers, social workers, caregivers, or educators.

The training is interactive – it includes discussions, presentations, case analyses, and practical exercises in providing PFA.

During the training, participants will learn:

what psychological first aid is and how PFA for children differs from PFA for adults,
what events cause intense stress in children and how children react to such situations,
how to identify children and caregivers needing support,
how to apply the "Look, Listen, Connect" method when working with children,
how to communicate effectively with children and what techniques can help in this,
what the limits of PFA are and when it is necessary to refer a child to specialized help.

During the training, participants:
will analyze the characteristics of events that cause intense stress and the differences in children's reactions depending on age,
will practice the skills acquired,
will learn communication techniques with children, including seven key methods,
will participate in exercises teaching how to care for one’s own well-being.

PFA for children is based on the same principles as PFA for adults; however, children are not just small adults – they have different experiences, perceive the world differently, and react to stress in their own ways. Their dependence on adults, along with their emotional and cognitive development levels, means that they need different support and protection.

Participants will learn how to effectively support children in crisis by adjusting assistance to their individual needs.

Training on the care of employees and volunteers

Expand

The training on care for employees and volunteers is a full-day training intended for employees and volunteers of the Polish Red Cross.

During the training, participants:

will familiarize themselves with the concept of psychosocial well-being and learn about the existing threats (such as burnout) and protective factors;
will get to know individual (e.g., breathing exercises) and group (peer support system, group meetings) methods of maintaining well-being;
will practice conducting group meetings;
will participate in practical exercises.

Sports Coach+ training for sports coaches

Expand

The training "Sport Coach+" is a full-day training aimed at supporting sports coaches and physical education teachers working with young people affected by displacement, by providing specialized knowledge, skills, and techniques in the following areas:

Understanding the impact of stressful experiences: Analyzing how difficult experiences can affect the behavior and development of young athletes affected by displacement.
Creating supportive sports environments: Shaping safe and supportive spaces that meet the psychological needs of young athletes in terms of connection, autonomy, and the development of life and sports skills.
Recognizing and responding to athletes' needs: Identifying the needs of youth in difficult situations and responding to them in a way that is sensitive to trauma and supportive of the healing process.