Psychological First Aid (PFA) provides compassionate support to help people cope after a disaster or traumatic event. PFA aims to create a supportive environment, assess needs, and help develop coping mechanisms. It involves listening non-judgmentally and connecting people to information, services, and social support. PFA is not counseling but a humane response provided by various helpers to reduce distress until local services are available. The goal is to stabilize the situation and provide support, not delve deeply into problems or force conversations.
4. PFA
“A human supportive response to a
fellow human being who is suffering and
who may need support”
5. –Knowing PFA will allow you to:
Create a compassionate environment for
yourself, fellow responders, and disaster
survivors.
Assess what a person might need & give
immediate support.
Help develop good coping mechanisms.
8. • A report published in 1996 states that 66% of the tornado
affected people were psychologically traumatized in the costal
area
• 2007 - Super cyclone ‘Sidr’ changed the views regarding post
disaster mental health service.
• Technical and financial support came from World Psychiatric
Association (WPA)
• Multiple teams rushed to the affected area to provide mental
health services
Some facts…….
11. Normal reactive process
• Most recovers within 6 to 16 months
• Common stress reactions
Emotional , Cognitive, Physical, Interpersonal
• Post traumatic growth/benefited response
16. PFAElements
. Care and support
• Needs and concerns
• Address basic needs
• Listening to people, not pressuring
• Comforting people and helping them to feel calm
• Helping people connect to information, service and social
support
• Protecting from further harm
17. PFA
Who need immediately
• Serious life threatening injuries
• So upset, cant care themselves and family
• May hurt self/others
18. PFA
When and where
• Recently affected
• Sometimes days or weeks after
• Scene of accident/disaster
• Health center, shelter/camps etc
20. Providing PFA
Preparation
• know about crisis
• know about available service and support
• know about safety and security concern
21. Providing PFA
Good communication
• Basics of communication skill
• Don’t pressure
• Don’t think you must solve all problems
• Don’t give false promise
24. Providing PFA
Special attention group
• Child adolescent group
• People with health conditions/disabilities
• People at risk/discrimination/violence
25. Caring for self and colleague
• Be friendly
• Managing stress
28. PFA
What PFA is not
• Not only professionals do
• Not a professional counseling
• Not “Psychological debriefing”
• Not asking, analyzing, put in order
• Available to listen but not pressuring to talk
