The Bahrain Red Crescent Society (BRCS), in cooperation with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, organized a training program entitled "Remote psychological first aid to tackle COVID-19 ". The program was created in the framework of society's keenness to build the volunteers' capacities, qualify them, and strengthen their ability to provide support service to the needy in all circumstances. The program lasted for three days. The Red Crescent's volunteers got acquainted with the concept of psychological first aid, the impact of the spread of the virus on society in psychological terms, and applying the principles and skills of psychological first aid. During the third and last day of the training program, remote scenarios were applied, in which the participants used skills they learned during the three days. This included providing remote assistance, and how the helpers use the basic principles of psychological first aid through visual or audio communication only, and the mechanism of speaking slowly, clearly, and calmly, reaching out in a manner that shows warmth and compassion, changing the voice in a way that expresses interest and good listening and the use of affirmative phrases such as "I hear you, yes .." especially when speaking with a very anxious caller. They also were trained to use visual communication to communicate with those in need of psychological support. The program concluded its activities by emphasizing the strategies and methods of self-care for volunteers during COVID-19 pandemic, which is maintaining daily routine at home or the workplace, practicing activities and exercises, staying in touch and maintaining spiritual and religious customs, allocating time to communicate with family and friends, and accepting feelings and emotions, and finally the importance of peer support by linking two or more people to provide support to each other. This training was supervised by Dr. Mahmoud Tharwat, director of the mental health and regional psychosocial support office for the Middle East and North Africa, Professor Ahlam Al-Shafi, representative of the reference center for psychosocial support at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and Professor Mayser Sabry Awadallah, chairperson of the Awareness Health Committee Health in Bahrain Red Crescent Society. — SG
