22 July 2025
From 14 to 17 July 2025, eleven staff members from the Luxembourg Red Cross – representing various services such as HELP, home care, ambulance services, and psychosocial support – took part in a rather special training course: learning to become trainers in Psychological First Aid (PFA).
Over the course of four days, in a warm, supportive, and positively energised atmosphere, participants discovered practical tools to better support people in distress – and, more importantly, how to pass on these essential skills.
This new group of trainers will help strengthen the dissemination of Psychological First Aid across the organisation and offer greater support to those in need.
Psychological First Aid is a simple, humane way of helping someone in distress. It’s not about therapy, but about being present, listening, acknowledging what the person is going through, and, if necessary, guiding them to appropriate resources.
Training in PFA means learning how to:
• recognise signs of distress,
• understand emotional reactions following a shock,
• know how to approach and support someone in a difficult moment,
• offer initial practical and emotional support.
These are everyday skills – useful in both professional and personal contexts. These courses are offered as part of the EU4HEALTH project, which aims to strengthen psychological support for people affected by the war in Ukraine and neighbouring impacted countries.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible.
