Dear IAGP Members and CAOA Representatives,

As many of you know, a major natural disaster has also struck Brazil, affecting thousands of people. A severe weather disaster struck Porto Alegre, one of the most developed cities in Brazil. The disaster involved a combination of heavy rainfall, severe flooding, and strong winds, causing significant damage to infrastructure, homes, and the natural environment.

Similar big disasters are happening all over the world. Another natural disaster, an earthquake, recently claimed the lives of more than 200,000 people in Türkiye.

At the request of our President, Heloisa Fleury, and in recognition of its importance, the Social and Collective Traumas Committee has prepared a text (Deniz Altınay, Nicola Policicchio, Scott Giacomucci) outlining key points to consider when providing psychological first aid after natural disasters. The text is available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

You can find and download the text at the following links:

English:  https://www.iagp.com/es/comite-de-traumas-sociales-y-colectivos/

We hope that this short text will be of help to those you share it with, and that you will also find it useful.

Sincerely,

Deniz Altınay and Nicola Policicchio

Co-Chair of the Social and Collective Traumas Committee