90. Listening and validating feelings of stress are important in psychological support – article by Iolanda Jaquemet for Red Cross and Red Crescent

Each time, the same simple principles are applied. The psychosocial assistance teams allow people to talk about their suffering and fears. They listen sympathetically and validate their feelings. They also provide clear and factual information because rumours make stress even worse.

During the first round of visits, the most serious cases are referred for specialist treatment. For the rest, there are follow-up visits and group sessions, to enable participants to share their experiences. It is more a case of post-trauma prevention than treatment: being able to talk often mitigates complications later.

"People need this kind of help within 30 days," says Oscar Morales, secretary general of the Salvadorean Red Cross. "After that they internalize their pain, sometimes with fatal consequences."