First Responders Receive Psychological First Aid Training in Belize City

A number of Belize’s frontline emergency responders are better equipped to handle not only physical emergencies, but emotional crises as well.  Today, the Ministry of Health and Wellness hosted a mental health working session on Psychological First Aid at the Grand Resort in Belize City. The training brought together participants from the Belize Defence Force, Belize Coast Guard, Police Department, Belize City Council and several other response agencies.  The session focused on preparing first responders to assist victims experiencing trauma, shock and distress during emergencies, situations that health officials say are becoming increasingly common.  According to the Ministry’s Mental Health Coordinator, Nurse Yvette Quintanilla, the initiative comes in response to a noticeable rise in incidents requiring mental preparedness from emergency personnel.

Iveth Quintanilla, Mental Health Coordinator, Ministry of Health and Wellness: “Often times the focus is on the physical injuries and we tend to forget the emotional aspect when people are affected by these different sorts of traumas that are occurring throughout the country. And as well, because of the constant exposure that they are getting to the different traumas, they themselves can be affected. So we are trying to provide them with the skills so that they are able to take care of their own emotional well-being as well. We are aware of the effects of trauma on any individual and it can result in depression in post-traumatic stress disorder which are some of the mental health conditions. It’s not only for how it may affect them but the training is also focusing on how they are supposed to provide the support to the public in their line of duty as first responders. We have been working very closely with different ministries. For example, last year we did multiple sessions with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Human Development. We have been working very closely with the police last year as well. And well, to start off this year we have a large group of different ministries that are being represented today.”

Seven members of the Belize Coast Guard participated in today’s workshop. Chief Ken Neal says the training will significantly improve how officers interact with victims during rescue and recovery operations.

Chief Ken Neal, Participant: “Sometimes we respond to what we call SAR cases. Maybe retrieving the victim from the water, sometimes a boating incident that people may sustained certain types of injuries. In terms of counseling per say we don’t have a counselor at the Coast Guard but we have a very close relationship with the Belize Coast Guard who have counselor so if in the event that we would need counseling we get in contact with them and we have them provide counseling for our people. Training ensures that they’re mentally capable of doing any sort of training that we may provide to them. We have a close working relationship with that MOH as well, I would use their psychiatrist to do the mental screening for them.”

Police officers also attended the session.  Sergeant Leon Ferguson of the Police Department explained that officers are often the first to arrive at traumatic scenes and must now be ready to address psychological impacts as well as law enforcement duties.

Leon Ferguson, Police National Training Academy:  “One of the things I am hoping to achieve is to understand post traumatic stress disorder because one of the things we have noticed in the Belize Police Department is that a lot of police officers have been going through a lot of stuff. We have seen police officers dropping with sickness, health issues, financial issues and a lot of stuff. So, I’m hoping to get information to help these officers.”

The Ministry of Health and Wellness says the training forms part of a broader national push to integrate mental health awareness into emergency response, ensuring victims receive compassionate care in the critical moments immediately after a crisis./