Workshop on Teamwork: Mutual Support in Crisis Situations and Self-Care for Red Cross Volunteers and Staff

In the period from 3 to 5 April 2026, the Red Cross of the Republic of North Macedonia, within the framework of the Center for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, organized a workshop on the topic “Teamwork: Mutual Support in Crisis Situations and Self-Care,” with two psychologists from the Center engaged as trainers.

A total of 19 participants—volunteers and staff—took part in the workshop. They had been actively involved in interventions and providing support during the floods in Kichevo, Ohrid, Gostivar, and Skopje.

The workshop was designed as an interactive process, enabling participants to receive psychoeducation on the importance of self-care, acquire practical techniques for coping with stress in crisis situations at an individual level, learn approaches for mutual support within teams during crisis interventions, understand the distinction between private life and engagement in crisis situations, and enhance their skills for effective and proficient communication.

Special emphasis was placed on participants’ field experiences, with the aim of strengthening their psychological resilience and improving team coordination in future interventions.

The workshop was implemented with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, within the DREF operation “Floods 2026,” aimed at ensuring timely and quality support for the affected population and strengthening the capacities of Red Cross teams.