Offer specific help
Instead of asking the affected person to organise everything, offer concrete options: contacting a trusted person, finding a quiet place, arranging transport or asking the supervisor for cover. Obtain consent before involving others where appropriate. Immediate medical needs and safety take priority. A colleague may want company, privacy or a different person to assist.
Keep support separate from investigation
The person providing practical help need not collect a full account. Explain which questions are necessary for immediate arrangements and which can wait for an authorised review. Do not promise absolute confidentiality if information must be shared for safety or legal reasons. Share only what the relevant role needs.
Follow up without pressure
Agree whether and how the colleague would like another check-in. Do not require them to recount the incident to a group or appear in campaign material. Offer access to qualified support when wanted or needed. Record practical actions through the appropriate institutional process, while keeping private health information out of routine committee updates.
Further reading
- 2011 guide · Psychological first aid for field workers ↗World Health Organization · Source checked 2026-09-10
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