Preparedness of First-Contact Helping Professionals in Slovakia to Provide Crisis Intervention in War-Related and Migration Crises
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/2077-6594/2026.2/04Keywords:
psychological first aid, psychosocial support, refugees, provider preparedness, organisational support, supervision, burnout prevention, public healthAbstract
Purpose. The aim of the study was to analyse the preparedness of first-contact helping professionals in Slovakia to provide crisis intervention to people affected by war-related and migration crises. Materials and methods. A quantitative cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among 142 first-contact helping professionals working in Slovakia. Data were collected using an anonymous author-designed questionnaire focused on sociodemographic and professional characteristics, experience with people in crisis, previous training, self-assessed competencies, organisational support, barriers and training needs. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and one-sample t-tests against the neutral Likert value of 3. Results. Regular work with people affected by war-related or migration crises was reported by 34 respondents (23.9 %) and occasional work by 55 respondents (38.7 %). Repeated crisis intervention with such persons was reported by 46 respondents (32.4 %). Only 2 respondents (1.4 %) had completed certified training and 22 (15.5 %) a short course. Respondents rated themselves highest in basic psychological first aid (M = 4.44) and referral to further professional help (M = 3.91). Lower scores were found for work with war trauma or forced migration (M = 2.37) and organisational support (area mean = 2.64). The most frequent barriers were language barriers and high psychological burden of workers (both 62.7 %). Interest in further training was reported by 136 respondents (95.8 %). Conclusions. Preparedness was moderate and uneven. Systematic training, supervision, methodological guidance and organisational support should be strengthened in services that provide first contact with people affected by war-related and migration crises.
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