The Russian Red Cross (RRC), the oldest humanitarian organization in Russia, has conducted a training for the representatives of its 32 regional branches. The training focused on psychosocial support and psychosocial first aid skills and was held in Moscow. The trained staff will now be able to provide support to people affected by any kind of emergency, including the Ukrainian crisis.
For four days a team of dedicated professionals fr om 32 regional branches of the Russian Red Cross were trained in the mental health standards of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The trainees were introduced to the principles of psychological first aid (PFA) and psychosocial support and practiced the respective skills. In addition, they were trained to deliver trainings in psychological first aid as well as workshops and facilitation sessions to their colleagues and volunteers. Besides, the trainees were also informed of the special techniques of working with refugees and displaced persons in need of psychological support.
"We decided to hold the training for our representatives in the regions who throughout last year were active in providing support to people affected by the Ukranian crisis. These are the 32 regions wh ere we have determined to expand the coverage by material and voucher support. This year they will face a heavy workload again. That is why it was necessary to train the dedicated experts and chairs of the regional branches if the RRC" - said Victoria Makarchuk, First Deputy Chair of the Russian Red Cross.
The training was attended by the regional branch experts specialized in psychological first aid and PSS as well as by the chairpersons. They acquired the psychological first aid and psychosocial support skills and learned about the principles underlying the strategy for the development of this area of expertise in their regional branches. They also exchanged the practices and principles of setting up PSS services in their respective regional branches.
In addition, the colleagues of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies shared their experience in risk management. In particular, they introduced to the chairs of the regional branches the concept of risk management and shared how it is implemented in IFRC on an ongoing basis as well as in the context of the Ukrainian crisis.
