Mental Health for Community First Responders

Summary: Singapore Heart Foundation looks to share how they raise awareness on the issue on psychological support for lay responders and what training centres/instructors can do in their approach to build mental resilience for lay responders.

Synopsis of Presentation: Fear is a major factor in preventing bystanders from potentially saving a life. Studies in Singapore have shown that one of the factors that inhibits lay responders from responding to a medical emergency is “fear of experiencing psychological distress from responding”. Additionally, lay responders in countries such as, Norway and Taiwan, have reported suffering psychological stress, such as flashbacks, anxiety and fears of infectious disease following their attempts at resuscitating a casualty.

In the context of these findings, Singapore Heart Foundation decided to raise more awareness on the issue of psychological support for lay responders during our annual national symposium for training centres and first aid and CPR+AED instructors. Government stakeholders, mental health practitioners and training providers were invited to share their approach to building mental resilience and resources for strengthening rescuer readiness.

This presentation will provide session attendees with key insights from the symposium. We hope that this sharing will spark discussion on how CPR+AED training curriculum can be bolstered to equip trainers and participants with tools and techniques to galvanise bystanders during a cardiac arrest and safeguard their mental wellbeing in its aftermath.