Radical Mental Health First Aide (RMHFA) ACTION plan

the original Radical Mental Health First Aide (RMHFA) ACTION plan was developed by N. Oumou Sylla, LMFT , M.A. as a:

🌀non-linear
🌀intuitive
🌀step-by-step

action plan to use when providing support to someone who may be experiencing a distressing, triggering, or activating situation. it can also be used in non-crisis situations! 🤩

the extension of the ACTION plan outlined in this post was written by Laila Makled in collaboration with Oumou with facilitators, event organizers, coaches, educators, and managers in mind 💭

one of the goals of RMHFA is to normalize caregiving in public!!

as event planners and facilitators, we are constantly coming face to face with all kinds of situations that require public care.

holding space and gathering folks is a sacred practice, and it’s important those who are doing it are equipped with tools and training to show care from a place of consent and accountability.

a c t i o n

assess situation, context, capacity, environment

-are there other people witnessing / already tending to the situation?

-what is my capacity to show care in this situation? is it my place to step in?

-has anyone’s physical body been harmed?

-do i need medical staff/other support?

-where would i take this person if they are able and need to move?

-are we in a high traffic area / are there any physical barriers i need to create to protect this person’s safety?

-is there escalating conflict where physical separation may be necessary to protect those around them?

a c t i o n

center consent, care, and curiosity

-state your name (if person doesn’t know you or if the person does and they are in distress) and that you’re there to provide whatever kind of care folks are needing/desiring

-do not assume you know what this person needs

-inquire how the person is feeling, what is hurting, what’s coming up for them, etc.

-inquire what kind of care the person thinks they need and what feels like a priority, including checking in about sensory needs

-inquire if they are with anyone or if there is anyone they’d like you to call for support

-always ask permission before providing advice, getting close, or initiating touch (i.e. “can i provide some options for ways i might be able to support you?” “can I get closer to you so we can talk?” “can i put this blanket over your shoulder?”)

a c t i o n

tackle one need at a time

items with a * next to them are adapted from: We Keep Us Safe: Creating Safer Spaces by Ejeris Dixon

-tend to basic needs such as sensory (sound, touch, visual), water, food, sleep, affection, temperature, bathroom

-take a break, learn about what happened, and if there is conflict between two or more folks, see if there is a way to create more safety other than removal (i.e. can spaciousness be created via time, agreements, or physical space?)*

-if verbal violence happens, interrupt it, take a break, debrief the incident, and collaboratively revisit the agenda, even if that means canceling the rest of the day’s plans*

-if physical violence happens, get the group away from the people who are involved and physically separate folks from each other*

-after conflict has been resolved, care has been given, etc., recruit others to check on the individuals involved and see if anything is needed*

a c t i o n

identify power dynamics, social location, mindset

-what power dynamics are feeding into this moment?

-how are disabled and other multiply marginalized/oppressed folks experiencing the space?

-what power do i hold in this situation?

-is my desire to support coming from a white savior/martyr mindset?

-is this person (consensually) allowing me to care for them or are they (reluctantly) accepting my care?

-what is my and the other person’s brain space looking, feeling, feeling, and sounding like?

a c t i o n

offer options

-is there someone i can call for support? would you like me or someone else to support you with what’s going on?

-would you like water, food or a blanket? do you need to go to the bathroom? do you need to cool down or warm up?

-would you like to move somewhere quieter so we can chat?

-would you like us to do some co-regulation with touch, land, breath, or movement?

-is there any way i can help you move your body that would make you feel more comfortable?

-can i call you a lyft home?

-based on what you just told me, here’s what i can offer...

a c t i o n

nervous system regulation

-your nervous system and others!

-reference your care plan (strategies you compiled ahead of time that help you ground)

-land regulation - trees, clouds, sand, rocks, wind

-lineage / ancestor / community regulation - altars, talk to ancestors aloud, rituals

-solo-regulation - shaking, self-hug, breathing, body scan, butterfly tapping

-co-regulation - person to person or person to animal such as eye gazing, consensual touching, breathing together