First psychological assistance for affective reactions to acute combat stress: training for representatives of the defense forces was conducted in the DDOS
The general algorithm of the training was developed by the Head of the Department (on a public basis) of Extreme and Crisis Psychology of the Faculty of Training Specialists for the Pretrial Investigation Units of DonDUV Andriy Fomenko. Today he formed the basis of the work on providing first psychological assistance for acute stress and affective states for units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, in particular for assault brigades.
“The training gives an idea to a law enforcement officer or serviceman how to act in stressful situations, how to help his comrade or comrade in order to bring him out of the state of acute stress qualitatively, to return to combat capacity and subsequently to avoid injuries,” Andriy Fomenko said. - Such trainings are held on a permanent basis basis, mostly for those directly involved in the fighting.”
The training consists of modules: assistance with acute stress “stupor”, with acute stress reaction “acute motor activity” and in panic state.
“In fact, we are talking about part of a great training psychological training or pre-psychological help, because it will most likely not be provided by a psychologist, but by a sibling. Qualitative learning of interaction during stressful situations avoids further major crises in a person's life, - explains the coach. “We constantly encounter stress states of varying intensity and psycho-emotional modality, that is, for the most part, stresses are negative, what we call distress or acute stress. This applies not only to military or police officers, but also to civilians who are trying to deal with difficult emotional states. We feel the need to provide support by training representatives of the defense forces. By carrying out psychoeducation of stressful influences, we provide the person with behavioral strategies on how to help themselves and others,” noted the developer of the training.
Representatives of the defense forces, who took part in the first trainings from the psychologist of the DDOS, noted the importance of information that will help to navigate in extraordinary situations.
Donetsk State University of Internal Affairs
