RESILIENCY & SUPPORTIVE COMMUNICATION TRAINING — LOOK, LISTEN, LINK, LIVE
CANADIAN RED CROSS PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID
Build practical skills to recognize stress, provide compassionate support, connect people with resources, and strengthen resiliency using the Canadian Red Cross Look, Listen, Link, Live model.
Canadian Red Cross Psychological First Aid training delivered through Metro Safety in Coquitlam, and available for workplace or private group delivery by arrangement. Learn practical, compassionate ways to recognize stress and distress, support people affected by difficult events, connect them with appropriate resources, and protect your own wellbeing while helping others. Psychological First Aid is a resiliency-based program that introduces the Canadian Red Cross Look, Listen, Link, Live model through case-based learning, guided discussion, reflection, and practical scenarios. This is not counselling, psychotherapy, diagnosis, or medical treatment — participants learn how to provide calm, respectful, non-judgmental emotional and practical support within the limits of their role and training.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
CANADIAN RED CROSS PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID COURSE MODULES
Built directly from the WorkSafeBC Basic First Aid Participant Guide.
Module 1 — Introduction to the Red Cross and Psychological First Aid
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Define what Psychological First Aid is — and what it is not
- Distinguish practical support from clinical care
- Identify the emotional, psychological, social, and practical dimensions of wellbeing
- Recognize situations that fall outside PFA scope
TOPICS COVERED
- Overview of the Canadian Red Cross and PFA framework
- Scope, purpose, and limits of Psychological First Aid
- Wellbeing dimensions: emotional, psychological, social, practical
- When to refer beyond PFA
Module 2 — Stress, Distress, and the Human Response
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Differentiate everyday stress from overwhelming distress
- Recognize stress responses across body, emotion, behaviour, cognition, social, and spiritual domains
- Identify cumulative stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue
- Notice changes from a person's normal functioning
TOPICS COVERED
- Physical, emotional, behavioural, cognitive, social, and spiritual reactions
- Cumulative stress and burnout
- Compassion fatigue in helpers and responders
- Baseline vs changed functioning
Module 3 — Loss, Grief, Trauma, and Indicators
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Describe how loss, grief, and trauma may affect people
- Identify common indicators of difficulty coping
- Recognize delayed reactions
- Understand why PFA does not require retelling the event
TOPICS COVERED
- Types of loss and grief responses
- Trauma indicators and delayed reactions
- Avoiding forced disclosure and re-traumatization
- When indicators suggest professional referral
Module 4 — Operational Principles, Protection, and Vulnerable Populations
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Apply PFA safely within personal role and training
- Uphold consent, privacy, and cultural humility
- Adapt support for children, youth, older adults, newcomers, and responders
- Escalate urgent concerns appropriately
TOPICS COVERED
- Safety, boundaries, and consent
- Privacy and cultural humility
- Supporting vulnerable populations
- Organizational policies and escalation pathways
Module 5 — LOOK: Recognize Needs, Risks, and Available Supports
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Check for immediate danger to self and others
- Observe signs of stress or reduced coping
- Identify practical needs (safety, shelter, food, medication, family contact)
- Assess your own readiness to help
TOPICS COVERED
- Scene and situational awareness
- Recognizing distress indicators
- Prioritizing practical needs
- Helper self-assessment
Module 6 — LISTEN: Supportive Communication
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Practice active listening and appropriate silence
- Use open questions and empathy without false promises
- Validate feelings without judgment or blame
- Respect a person's choice not to talk
TOPICS COVERED
- Active listening techniques
- Open questions and validating language
- Avoiding blame, judgment, or forced disclosure
- Compassionate silence and pacing
Module 7 — LINK: Connect People with Practical and Professional Supports
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Help identify immediate priorities with the person
- Connect with family, coworkers, community, Elders, and faith supports
- Refer to EAPs, health professionals, and emergency services
- Provide warm referrals with consent and choice
TOPICS COVERED
- Mapping formal and informal supports
- EAPs, healthcare, and emergency services
- Warm referral practices
- Consent, choice, and follow-through
Module 8 — LIVE: Resiliency, Protective Factors, and Self-Care
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Explain resiliency and 'bouncing forward'
- Build healthy coping and social connection
- Recognize unhelpful coping patterns
- Create a personal self-care plan to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue
TOPICS COVERED
- Resiliency and protective factors
- Healthy coping and connection
- Signs of unhelpful coping
- Personal self-care planning
WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE
- Managers, supervisors, team leads, and HR professionals
- Health and safety committee members
- Emergency responders, security personnel, and public-facing workers
- Teachers, coaches, childcare professionals, and youth leaders
- Community volunteers and non-profit staff
- Healthcare, social service, housing, and support workers
- Caregivers and family members
- Employees in workplace wellness or psychological safety programs
- Anyone wanting practical skills to support themselves and others in stressful situations
Prerequisites: Classroom format has no online prerequisite. The blended format requires completion of the Canadian Red Cross Psychological First Aid – Self-Care online course before the in-class session. Recommended minimum age 16; adult support recommended for younger participants.
WHY CHOOSE METRO SAFETY
WHAT YOU RECEIVE
- Canadian Red Cross Psychological First Aid certificate — valid 3 years
- Canadian Red Cross PFA workbook and Look, Listen, Link, Live reference materials
- Access to the Psychological First Aid – Self-Care online course (blended format)
- Digital certification record for HR or professional files
Course Overview
Psychological First Aid is a resiliency-based program for people who want to better understand the effects of stress, loss, trauma, and grief. Using the Canadian Red Cross Look, Listen, Link, Live model, participants build compassionate, respectful, and non-judgmental skills to support others while protecting their own wellbeing.
Case Studies and Practical Application
Realistic scenarios adapted to the audience — workplace incidents, cumulative stress, sudden loss, displacement, repeated exposure for responders, youth after a difficult event, teams returning after a critical incident, and supporting someone who does not want to talk about what happened.
Classroom vs Blended Format
Classroom: ~12 hours instructor-led, no online prerequisite, 100% participation required. Blended: ~45–90 min online Self-Care course + ~7 hours in class; online prerequisite and 100% classroom participation both required.
Certification
Participants who meet all requirements receive a Canadian Red Cross Psychological First Aid certificate valid for 3 years. Certification does not qualify a participant to diagnose mental illness, provide psychotherapy, or replace regulated healthcare or emergency services.
Private & Workplace Training
On-site delivery is available for organizations building emergency preparedness, employee support, psychological health and safety, or post-incident response plans. Contact Metro Safety at 604-521-4227 or info@metrosafety.ca to arrange a private group session.
Important Scope Notice
Psychological First Aid is an educational resiliency and support program. It is not a substitute for professional medical care, counselling, psychotherapy, emergency response, or crisis intervention. A person facing immediate danger or a life-threatening emergency should be connected with the appropriate emergency service.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
UPCOMING DATES
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