Group-based mindfulness-informed psychological first aid after Typhoon Haiyan

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to develop and evaluate a culturally sensitive and mindfulness informed psychological first aid (PFA) intervention for use with disaster workers in the Philippines intended to increase disaster knowledge and disaster coping self-efficacy. Design/methodology/approach -The study used a non-experimental, pre-test, post-test design. Measures of disaster knowledge and disaster coping self-efficacy were measured before and after the PFA intervention. Findings -Paired sample t-tests revealed significant pre/post-increases in knowledge about disaster reactions and disaster coping self-efficacy. Workshop evaluations indicated that the following proportions of participants rated these workshop components as the most useful: mindfulness, information about disaster reactions, small group sharing, information about coping, and the open space activity. Research limitations/implications -As in many disaster studies, it was not possible to include a randomized control group in the design. Another limitation was that only pre-and post-intervention data were collected. Future research should include longer-term follow-ups with participants to assess whether the benefits of the intervention are maintained over time. Future research may wish to address the limitations of the study including the lack of a control group and obtaining follow-up data to enable more robust conclusions. Practical implications -These results indicate how the use of a group-based intervention may be helpful especially in a collectivist culture. At the same time, acknowledging cultural values such as spirituality is an important component to providing psychosocial support for survivors. Mindfulness was found useful both as an initial calming activity as well as a means for helping survivors manage their stress reactions. Finally, the utilization of an open space activity can also be a helpful problemsolving mechanism when done in intact groups, as it enhances not just self-efficacy but also community efficacy among survivors. Originality/value -The study contributes to the dearth of knowledge on the use of PFA when used in a group, collective, and developing country setting.

Mindfulness in sustainability science, practice, and teaching

“…Nevertheless, current work mainly assesses the potential of specific mindfulness-related strategies and interventions for increasing psychological resilience in particular target groups, rather than individual mindfulness in general (i.e., mindfulness disposition) (Thompson et al 2011 ). These interventions include meditation or relaxation techniques aimed at different groups, including children and young people affected by disasters (Catani et al 2009 ; Zeller et al 2015 ), disaster survivors and at-risk individuals (Hechanova et al 2015 ; Hoeberichts 2012 ; Matanle 2011 ; Srivatsa et al 2013 ; Yoshimura et al 2015 ), disaster aid workers (Eriksen and Ditrich 2015 ; Hoeberichts 2012 ; Smith et al 2011 ; Waelde et al 2008 ), and disaster researchers (Eriksen and Ditrich 2015 ). The studies have advanced knowledge in relation to trauma/ traumatic stress reduction (see Thompson et al [ 2011 ] for a review of related advancements).…”

“…Overall, the literature review highlights that the field is still emerging. In addition to aspects related to sustainability in general, studies particularly highlight and provide scientific support for the positive influence of mindfulness on: (1) minimizing automatic, habitual, or impulsive reactions; (2) facilitating more flexible, adaptive responses to events (e.g., Brown et al 2007 ; Hechanova et al 2015 ; Waelde et al 2008 ); and (3) influencing individuals’ support for planned actions to address climate change (all of which are relevant to the anticipation of, and coping with, unpredictability in organizations [i.e., “organizational mindfulness”]). Here, ‘planned’ adaptation is the result of a deliberate (governmental) policy decision, based on an awareness that conditions have changed—or are about to change—and that action is required to return to, maintain, or achieve a desired state (IPCC 2001 , 2014 ).…”

Building a culture of workplace wellness: Perspectives from Philippine organizations

“…Engelbrecht and Jobson (2016) suggested that in collectivist cultures, group therapies increase empowerment and reduce psychological shame, isolation, and helplessness. A study among Filipino disaster survivors suggests that interventions that focus on individual maladjustment or stress reactions may not be as relevant as programs that encourage social support and interdependent coping efforts (Hechanova, Ramos & Waelde, 2015).…”

“…Moreover, resources for mental health are scarce. Unlike developed economies such as Canada that has one mental health practitioner for every 7,930 persons, in the Philippines, the ratio of psychiatrists to clients is .41:100,000 (World Health Organization, 2007) and psychologists is 1:100,000 (Hechanova, Waelde, et al, 2015). Although the country has just recently passed a Mental Health bill act supporting mental health services and treatment, the bill has yet to be implemented.…”

Trauma Therapists’ Clinical Applications, Training, and Personal Practice of Mindfulness and Meditation

“…MBSR has also been investigated with child abuse survivors (Kimbrough et al 2010 ). Inner resources for stress was tested for PTSD symptoms with disaster survivors (Waelde et al, 2008 ) and integrated with psychological first aid and a post-disaster resilience intervention (Hechanova et al 2015a , 2015b ).…”