Psychological

PFA PROCESS First

Aid (PFA)
pfa

JULIE T. MAESTRADO EdD, RGC

Psychological First Aid (PFA)

is considered by the World Health

Organization as the most appropriate
response for survivors immediately after a
disaster. People do better over the long-term
if they feel safe, connected to others, calm &
hopeful, have access to social, physical &
emotional support, regain a sense of control
by being able to help themselves.
PFA aims to:
) Help people feel safe, responding to their
1

most basic needs,

2) Reduce distress and help calm them,
3) Identify and assist with their current needs,
4) Help them establish support connections,
5) Foster belief in their ability to cope.
 KEY CONCEPTS
1.SELF-CARE - The ability to engage in helping
others without sacrificing other important
parts of one’s life.
AWARENESS – slow down & focus inwardly
BALANCE in ALL areas of life
CONNECTION – build supportive relations
GRIEF- Is a process not a
state. It takes time to work
through. Is a natural response to
a significant loss
Causes of grief
•Death of Loved ones
•Annulment/separation
•abortion/miscarriage
•Loss of job
•Change of lifestyle
•Lost of properties
Factors of grief
•Degree of attachment to the
person lost
•Degree to which persons enriched
your life
•Quality and length of relationships
•Nature of death
 Grief and loss curve
Shock New
Beginnings

Denial
Planning
Bargaining/
Guilt Acceptanc
Anger e

Depression
 DO’S AND DON’TS
• DO
Listen and hear what is being said
Acknowledge that each person’s
experience of grief and loss will be unique
Remember that nobody has to justify
their feelings to you
Realize the person has suffered a loss,
even if you don’t perceive it as much
Allow the person to grieve
Encourage the griever to express
emotion and to work through the grief
Remember that many who give support
immediately after a death may be
delayed in working through their own
grief
recognize the intensity of grief that
will be experienced at certain
significant times
Encourage those who have a
common grief to support one
another if they can
• Don’t prevent the person from expressing
their guilt or anger if they need to
• Don’t stifle the person’s desire to talk about
the deceased
• Don’t personalize knock-backs to your efforts
to assist
• Don’t give trite answers to the “Why”
question
Psychological First
Aid (PFA) Process
Pre-Activity:

1. Take a piece of paper and fold it in half

lengthwise.
2. Consider a major crisis happening.
3. On the left side of the paper, briefly list
what YOU would need as a survivor.
4. On the right side of the paper, briefly list
what YOU would need as a helper in the
crisis situation.
People who have been through a crisis will often
need:

 Practical things – like a blanket, food, water,

shelter.
 Medical care for injuries or help with chronic
medical conditions
 Safety and protection
 Information – about the event, loved ones,
available services
 Someone who is willing to listen
 To be able to contact loved ones
 Specific support related to their culture or religion
 Being consulted and involved in decisions that
affect them.
Helpers will often need:

 Information about the event

 Information about the people affected
 Whether it is safe to go to the area
 Practical kinds of support to offer affected
people (e.g. food, water)
 To know who else is helping and what kind of
support they are providing.
 REFLECTION
PFA is designed to meet the needs of survivors –
including needs for practical help, emotional support
and connection with loved ones, information and
services. It is also designed for helpers to have a
framework to be prepared to help, and to have the
necessary skills and resources to
best support survivors.
Who are the people that we need to prioritize looking

Children and adolescents

 particularly those alone or separated

from caregivers.
 Girls are especially at risk.
 unaccompanied children and
adolescents for special assistance, as
they are at high risk of abuse and
exploitation.
Who are the people that we need to prioritize looking

People with health conditions

or disabilities

pregnant women, blind or deaf

people, people who may be
immobile and in need of help to
get to a safe place
people with severe mental
disorders and people on
medication for chronichttps://bit.ly/3GNK2S7
health
https://bit.ly/3HM9gS0
Who are the people that we need to prioritize looking

People at risk of
discrimination or violence
this includes women or people
of certain ethnic groups who
may need protection or extra
assistance in accessing services
due to the possible risk of
discrimination or violence.
https://bit.ly/3GMn1ic
https://bit.ly/3oKiXZV
LEARNING STOP:

It is also important to
LOOK for people who are
in serious distress.
PARTING WORDS