Module I: Validating Feelings and Normalizing Reactions

Naisud National High School Psychological First Aid

Module I: Validating Feelings and Normalizing Reactions

OBJECTIVES:

By the end of the session, students should be able to:

• Identify feelings/reactions related to the pandemic/any form of disaster
• Accept that all feelings and reactions are normal and valid

INTRODUCTION

Hi. How are you all feeling today? How has it been since the start of
ECQ/MECQ/GCQ? Classes are about to start again and this is how we will be
conducting classes but before we can do that, it is important that we talk
about how you are first. Before we begin, can you make sure that you have a
sheet of paper with you please?

ACTIVITY: Graphing Feelings

KUMUSTA KAYO? This is a strange crisis situation that we are all

experiencing, don’t you agree? So how are you? Are you okay, not okay? Were
you not okay three months ago but okay now? Were you okay at the start but
okay now? Can you identify about the 5 feelings or emotions that you have
experienced during the past few months/weeks or days?

Direction: Create a graph chart of feelings/emotions that you have or may have had during all
the crisis situations that you experienced.
Here is an example:
My Emotions
My Emotions
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Worried Scared Angry Numb

ANALYSIS:
What did you notice about your reactions to the different situations? Are these
normal reactions to everything that you experienced?

It’s good that you realized that these are normal reactions as of this time. I want
you to realize that it is okay to not feel okay.
Naisud National High School Psychological First Aid

Module II: Calming Down and Managing One’s Emotions and Thoughts

OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the session, students should be able to:
• Identify positive ways to manage one’s emotions
• Practice calming down using a relaxation exercise
• Be able to practice reframing one’s thoughts

INTRODUCTION
We already knew about your reactions to the pandemic or any form of
disaster. Today, we will talk about how to manage your feelings.

ACTIVITY # 1

Direction: Write inside the column A your emotions and in column B on how to
manage your emotions.

A B
Example: Scared Listening to worship songs.

ACTIVITY # 2
1. Count backwards.
Direction: If you feel that you are getting more upset or stressed or anxious or nervous. You
can ask to be excused or you can just close your eyes, or turn around and just silently, count
backwards from 10 until 1. While doing so, focus on your breathing and tell yourself to calm
down.
2. Reframe.
Direction: This means that a feeling usually comes from a thought and when we can
change or reframe a thought, then we can change how we feel. For example, I feel angry
because my mother called me lazy. I think my mother called me that way because she does
not see me working hard or maybe because she is just really unfair all the time. I can reframe
that by saying, my mother is just very stressed and tired tonight. She does not mean what she
says. By reframing the thought, I have changed the way I feel about the situation.

ANALYSIS:
What do you feel? What do you think was the point of this activity?
Naisud National High School Psychological First Aid

Module III: Identifying and Addressing Needs

OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the session, students should be able to:
• To identify one’s current needs and those of one’s family
• Become aware of the various institutions, departments and centers present within the school
environment or the immediate community
• Take note of the important numbers and information regarding who to approach for their
needs

Additional Information on Psychological First Aid (PFA)

Regardless of the type of disaster or pandemic, people who are affected
often need help in the following:
Frequent Needs (WHO et al., 2011)
• Basic needs: food, shelter, water, clean toilets
• Health services for those who are ill and injured (and for those who seem to
be suffering from anxiety, trauma and depression)
• Simple and correct information about the event, loved ones and services
available for them
• Access to cell phones, internet, email in order to contact loved ones and
other sources of social support
• Being consulted about major decisions that will directly affect their lives
(e.g., being transported to another province, moving to a bunk house, etc.)

ACTIVITY # 1

Direction: Copy the List of Emergency Contact Numbers and Information in your
notebook.
Naisud National High School Psychological First Aid

List of Common Needs of Survivors after a Disaster or Pandemic

General To find missing family members, to provide medical assistance to those

who
were hurt, to gain access to list of casualties, to know how many were
affected, to provide proper burial facilities for those who have passed
on
Food and To provide waterline to homes, to gain access to source of water for
Water multiple
purposes, food for x number of days
Family Goods Blankets, clothes, beddings, tarp, flashlight, storage boxes,
underwater,
dignity kits, disinfectants/alcohol
Fuel For vehicle, gas for cooking, for kerosene lamps
Shelter Temporary shelter, building materials to be used for repairs

List of Common Needs During a Pandemic and how to access them

Relief Goods To receive relief goods and “ayuda” or from Barangay level, Mayor,
and DSWD.
Selling of Is your family involved in selling some products or goods? They too,
Product and need to get
Goods permits to travel and to sell their basic goods and commodities. Go to
your Barangay Center to issue the permit.

Transportation If you need to travel within your area of vicinity, go to your Barangay
within your Center
area. and ask for permission to go to a Grocery Store, Market place,
Supermarket or Pharmacy store. A quarantine pass is issued by your
Barangay. Wearing face-mask is always needed.

Transportation Go to your Barangay Center to get a travel pass that will allow you to
outside your pass major
city or thoroughfares. Make sure you are Covid-free. Make sure also that you
municipality. wear your face-mask. They also provide you with vehicles.

Cash The DSWD releases cash amounts in three tranches to poor but
Assistance or deserving families.
Social Contact your local DSWD.
Amelioration
Program (SAP)
Cash Overseas Foreign Workers (OFW) may avail of Government Cash Aid
Assistance to by the DOLE
OFW and workers who have been displaced due to Pandemic.
Naisud National High School Psychological First Aid

ACTIVITY # 1

Direction: On the first column, list down all the members of the family whom you
live with. On the second column, identify the immediate needs of this person that
your family cannot address as of this moment. On the third column, identify where
you can refer this person to or who you can approach in order to ask for help
regarding the needs of this person. If you do not know anyone who can help that
person, just leave it blank first.

Needs Form

Family/Relative/Friend Current Immediate Need Refer to

Naisud National High School Psychological First Aid

Module IV: Identifying Sources of Strength

OBJECTIVES
• Identify personal, social, and emotional sources of strengths during and in the aftermath of
the disaster/stressful situation
• Identify their internal and external sources of strength

REVIEW:
Did you remember what the three previous sessions were about?
We knew about our needs and how to address them. We learned about how to
control our reactions and emotions. Now let us reflect on what has helped us to
move on. We are able to move on and not continue to feel the way that we
were feeling days or months ago because we have strengths.

Can you tell what makes the kite go up in the air? It needs the wind, it needs to be
made of good material, it needs a line or a long string, it needs a strong brace, etc. This is our
way of reminding you that you have resources within yourselves or with others that have
allowed you to begin your process of recovery. Just like a kite, you too have what it takes to fly.

Activity:

Direction: On each part of the kite’s diamond, please write down what you think
are your sources of strength. What makes you strong despite what you have gone
through? Can you also identify what or who acts like the wind for you? Who or what
helps you soar?