Psychosocial support
Find out what our Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Service does, plus how you can get and give support for psychological and emotional issues.
What is psychosocial support?
The British Red Cross responds to hundreds of UK emergencies every year – from major floods to house fires and transport accidents. Any crisis can affect people’s own sense of wellbeing as well as their connections with family, friends, colleagues and their community.
Psychosocial support helps support people to care for themselves and for their relationships with others. This helps people feel safe and better able to deal with a crisis.
How the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Service works
The British Red Cross Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Service helps both the people affected by crises, and the Red Cross staff and volunteers who support them. Working through a team of trained psychosocial staff and volunteers provides a range of services including one-to-one support, resources, education and referrals to other services.
We can support anyone giving or receiving a service within the Red Cross, from emergency response to refugee casework. Our support helps people deal with and recover from difficult experiences.
Resources for everyone
Our videos will help you find support to deal with everyday and major emergencies.
If you are feeling the impact of recent events, our wellbeing guide can help. The wellbeing guide is also available in Arabic, Bosnian, French, Portuguese and Ukrainian.
If you have family or friends caught up in any of the current crises, these online brochures may help you cope at this stressful time. These resources may also help:
- How do you talk to children about war?, a one-page guide for parents and caregivers from the PS Centre
- Free evidence based resources to help children and young people affected by war, migration and asylum from the UK Trauma Council
- The VCSEP Mental Health Network helps connect you to resources and support services.
- A range of articles, guidance and downloads about mental health and wellbeing.
Wellbeing the calmer way
Dealing with stress the Red Cross way.
C.A.L.M.E.R for young people
A TikTok video for younger people.
Mindfulness
A TikTok video for younger people.
Understanding trauma
How trauma affects different people.
A TikTok video for younger people.
Safe conversations around suicide
It can be distressing when you have concerns about someone who is considering taking their own life.
Discussing your concerns may feel unsettling, although being open and honest is often the first step in supporting someone at risk.
Either way, it's important to remember that you are not alone, and that there are others in your life - both personal and professional - to support you.
An introduction to giving basic psychosocial support
If you'd like to deepen your awareness of psychosocial support, our playlist provides an introduction to providing emotional support to people in crisis.
Resources for practitioners
Use our resources to build your skills to better support those you work with as practitioners.
Introduction to C.A.L.M.E.R
Supporting mental health and wellbeing.
Understanding trauma
How trauma affects different people.
Trauma informed approaches
Helping people in times of trauma.
Group dynamics and decision making
A guide to group dynamics.
Dignity and respect
Respecting people's values.
Empathy vs sympathy
Understanding another person's situation.
How you can help people in crisis
Our online resources can help you help others. When someone is going through a crisis, listening with kindness is a good place to start. You can also take the C.A.L.M.E.R. approach – this easy acronym will help you remember some simple steps to take when you or someone you know feels anxious or stressed.
And if you are feeling lonely, the Red Cross has services and online support that can help.
Either way, it’s important to remember that you are not alone and that there are others in your life – both personal and professional – to support you.
More information
Get help with loneliness
If you’re living with loneliness, or know someone who is, we can help you connect with your local community, and find new friends and activities.
Wellbeing support
Get help to build confidence and resilience and improve your wellbeing.