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Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Liisa Jackson, director-coordinator of the Medical Reserve Corps, addresses attendees at the annual joint meeting of the Massachusetts Municipal Management Association and the Massachusetts Municipal Human Resources association on April 10 in Wrentham. Jackson discussed how to best support individuals in distress following a difficult or traumatic experience and techniques for communication, self-care and stress reduction.
Psychological first aid was the focus of the annual joint meeting of the Massachusetts Municipal Human Resources association and the Massachusetts Municipal Management Association on April 10 in Wrentham.
Liisa Jackson, director and coordinator at the Medical Reserve Corps, led a training on the key components of psychological first aid and how to provide initial emotional support to individuals experiencing distress after a traumatic event or a difficult situation.
“Psychological first aid is different from medical first aid,” Jackson said. “While medical professionals are taking care of physical wounds, psychological care is something that everybody needs.”
She said practitioners of psychological first aid “need to be able to deescalate themselves first so they can help stabilize someone else.”
Jackson reviewed the core actions of a psychological first aid response, including contact and engagement with the person in need of care, information gathering, and providing connection and social services.
“It’s basic human skills,” she said. “Let them know they’re OK here, that this is a safe place, and that you can figure things out together.”
Jackson stressed the importance of communication, planning, and having a strong team. Municipal leaders should make sure that their employees are comfortable working together and aware of relevant support resources so they can respond to a mental health crisis in the moment with confidence. A proactive approach is key for both professional first responders and other staff at city or town hall, who may encounter mental health emergencies either through their public-facing work or internally, with a colleague.
“Think about protocol,” she said. “Who’s best at this? Who in your town has had the right training?”
Jackson led two scenarios to help participants practice the core actions of psychological first aid and identify available community mental health resources. In small groups, participants discussed how they would respond to each scenario before reporting back.
“We may approach things differently, but that doesn’t take away from our caring, and our willingness to help someone else,” Jackson concluded.
The meeting included a legislative update from MMA Executive Director Adam Chapdelaine, who covered recent developments related to the state budget and the MMA’s advocacy for increases to local aid, the Chapter 90 local road maintenance program; remote meeting allowances; and impacts of federal-level funding cuts on communities in Massachusetts.