Explain the purpose of each conversation
An operational review asks what happened in the system and what needs improvement. A support conversation asks what the person needs. Mixing the two can leave staff unsure whether they are receiving help or being assessed. Tell participants the purpose, who will receive notes and which matters can be discussed privately instead.
Offer choice in participation
Avoid making a public account of the event a condition of practical help. Let staff raise sensitive concerns through an appropriate confidential route. Do not diagnose colleagues or ask a group to interpret someone’s reaction. Qualified mental-health support can be offered separately, with clear information about access and confidentiality.
Capture learning without exposure
A meeting can examine unanswered calls, unclear roles or an access problem without recording a person’s intimate feelings. Publish only the operational actions needed by the team. Check whether witnesses and support workers have also been offered assistance. Respectful support continues after the meeting and does not depend on someone becoming a public campaign spokesperson.
Further reading
- 2011 guide · Psychological first aid for field workers ↗World Health Organization · Source checked 2026-09-10
Source dates and country context matter. Read our editorial approach.