Tel-Hai Magazine 2023-2024

The Six Cs Model

children as young as 11, to adults, and to Home Front Command soldiers. Helping in evacuee centers: logistic support (i.e., organizing activities and encouraging people to be active) along with Psychological First Aid (PFA); during the first few days. The immediate needs combined these two aspects in most cases. Once the logistic aspects were under control, our students focused on helping evacuees to create a daily rou tine and helped parents communicate the horrific events of October 7 to their children. Additionally, students assisted community leaders in organizing activi ties, reducing passivity and increasing proactivity, as well as in making import ant decisions, such as relocating commu nity members to semi-permanent loca tions. Working in alternative educational systems: students took part in setting Defense Forces (IDF), Israeli Traffic Po lice, Fire Department, Magen David Adom (Israel’s EMS), Search & Rescue Units, and local authorities volunteer & emergency teams. The model has also been integrated into international insti tutions including the military forces of the United States and Germany. Hun dreds of mental health professional and nonprofessional personnel from various countries including, England, the Philip pines, Nepal, Greece, Serbia, Uganda and Mozambique, have been trained in the Six Cs model. The ‘Six C’s’ is an acronym represent ing the model’s six principles of interven tion: Communication, Commitment, Cognition, Continuity, Control and Challenge. Each of the six C’s offers sev eral behavioral and verbal techniques to reduce stress responses, regain cognitive control and restore self-efficacy and function during emergency situations and times of acute stress. The guidelines for using the model were developed with a practical and

interventions focus on increasing person al capabilities and sense of control, en couraging proactivity and regaining in dependent functioning, while reducing the risk of developing secondary trauma tization in the future. All interventions were overseen and guided by the profes sional faculty of the department. Stu dents and graduates, who themselves had been evacuated worked with the commu nities at their temporary locations, others travelled to evacuee centers, while some launched independent initiatives. Below are some of the initiatives they took part in: Training civilians and Home Front Command soldiers in the SIX C's Model: students and graduates engaged in providing psychological support and provided training in the practice of the Six Cs model to communities across the country. The training was provided to The Six Cs Model was recognized as the national model for Psychological First Aid by the Israeli Ministry of Health in 2017. It has been adopted as the main model for immediate assistance in stress ful and emergency situations by the Min istries of Education, Health and Internal Security in Israel as well as by the Israel The Six C’s Model was developed by world-renowned mental health specialist Dr. Moshe Farchi, Head of the Depart ment of Social Work, and Founder of the Stress, Trauma and Resilience study track at Tel-Hai. It was designed to pro vide Psychological First Aid (PFA) inter ventions by professionals and non-profes sionals alike, during crisis and/or stressful situations. The model uniquely combines current neuropsychological insights with practical use for the general population, enhancing functional independence. Im plementation of the model during a crisis enables individuals to return to full effec tive functioning within minutes, while reducing the risk of developing second ary traumatization.

up and activating temporary schools and preschools to provide alternative educational frameworks and routines for children, allowing parents to focus on the recovery of their families. Providing support for victims of the Nova party: students and graduates provided support to survivors of the Nova party through in-person meetings and via telephone conversations. Assisting the spouses of reservists: women (mostly) whose spouses were called to duty were left with the burden of keeping their families functioning all on their own. Interventions included establishing support groups, setting up designated hotlines, and offering indi vidual interventions as needed. Helping in hospitals: with hospitals flooded with hundreds of injured pa tients, in various conditions, volunteer straightforward approach that allows training individuals in just a few short hours to become first responders who can provide immediate Psychological First Aid during the acute phase of trau ma. These interventions build both indi vidual and community resilience, dra matically increasing independence. Individuals and communities are em powered to care for themselves during crises, and to gain control of chaotic sit uations. The simple and effective method of this model allows people who have been trained in the method to “pay it forward” - parents to children, teachers to students, community leaders to neigh bors, friends and colleagues, and so on. Thus, creating a ripple effect that can reach tens of thousands of people, influ encing a vast range of populations. This accessible approach proved to be essential in the aftermath of the Iron Swords War in Israel, enabling people to apply these principles themselves, foster ing resilience and aiding in community recovery.

Tel-Hai Magazaine | 2023-2024 13