Module 3:

Introduction to
Psychological First Aid
(PFA)
I. Why PFA?
 Why is Psychological First Aid important?

• Psychological First Aid is designed to reduce

the initial distress caused by traumatic events
and to foster short- and long-term adaptive
functioning and coping.

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/sites/default/files/public/php/146/146_guide.pdf
 Why is Psychological First Aid
important?
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
II. What is Psychological
First Aid (PFA)
Psychological First Aid (PFA) is:
A description of a humane,
supportive response to a fellow
human being who is suffering
and who may need support.

From WHO, War Trauma Foundation and

World Vision International (2011), based on
Sphere (2011) & IASC MHPSS Guidelines
(2007)
Psychological First Aid (PFA) is:
Psychological first aid It is a way of assisting
(PFA) is a method of someone to manage
helping people in distress their situation and
so they feel calm and make informed
supported to cope better decisions.
with their challenges.
 PFA: First-Line Psychosocial
Support

• PFA is important, first-line psychosocial support for

people affected by crisis events
– PFA, like medical “first aid”, is not enough on its own

• Term “PFA” was first coined in the 1940s but its use
has increased in modern-day crisis events
PFA Themes:
  3 Helpful Factors 
for Long­
Term Recovery:
III. Misconceptions about
PFA
Group Game
 FALSE
1. Only professionals can
give PFA
 TRUE
2. PFA does not mean
Professional Counselling
 FALSE
3. PFA is a clinical or
psychiatric intervention
 TRUE
4. Immediate in-depth interview of
victims should not be conducted right
after the disaster.
 FALSE
4. During a traumatic event, it is helpful
to provide immediate psychotherapy.
 TRUE
5. PFA involves listening to people who
wish to share their stories and
emotions.
 FALSE
6. Active Listening includes informing the
person that “I know how you feel” and
avoiding asking clarifying questions.
 FALSE
7. Headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue,
and loss of appetite are abnormal reactions
to stress
 TRUE
8. Many emotional reactions that would
appear unusual in a stable situation are
common and can be anticipated during a
disaster.
 FALSE
9. Effective communications during times
of trauma include avoiding repeating
information.
 FALSE
10. PFA fundamentally involves asking
people details about how they feel or what
happened.
Misconceptions about PFA

• Something only professionals can give;

• Professional counselling;
• A clinical or psychiatric intervention (although it can be part of good clinical
care);
• Psychological debriefing;
• Asking someone to analyse what happened to them or to put time and events
in order;
• Pressing people to tell you their story;
• Asking people details about how they feel or what happened.
 IV. PFA:
Who, When,
Where?
A. PFA:
Who?
PFA: Who?

 PFA is for distressed people who have been recently exposed to a

serious crisis event;
 You can provide help to both children and adults;
 However, not everyone who experiences a crisis event will need
or want PFA;
 Do not force help on people who do not want it, but make
yourself easily available to those who may want support.
PFA: Who?

 There may be situations when someone needs much more

advanced support than PFA alone;
 Know your limits and get help from others, such as medical
personnel (if available), your colleagues or other people in the
area, local authorities, or community and religious leaders.
PFA: Who?

 In the following box we have listed people who need more

immediate advanced support. People in these situations
need medical or other help as a priority to save life.
PFA: Who?
A. PFA:
When?
PFA: When?

 Although people may need access to help and support for a long
time after an event, PFA is aimed at helping people who have been
very recently affected by a crisis event;
PFA: When?

 You can provide PFA when you first have contact with very distressed
people. This is usually during or immediately after an event;

 However, it may sometimes be days or weeks after, depending on how

long the event lasted and how severe it was.
C. PFA:
Where?
PFA: Where?

 You can offer PFA wherever it is safe enough for you to do so. This
is often in community settings, such as at the scene of an accident,
or places where distressed people are served, such as health centres,
shelters or camps, schools and distribution sites for food or other
types of help;
PFA: Where?

 Ideally, try to provide PFA where you can have some privacy to talk
with the person when appropriate;

 For people who have been exposed to certain types of crisis events,
such as sexual violence, privacy is essential for confidentiality and
to respect the person’s dignity.
V. Who
provides
PFA?
Who provides PFA?

 PFA should be delivered by appropriate agencies as part of state, 
regional/district or local emergency management plans;
 Responses 
can be undertaken in a coordinated manner, and the psychosocial 
support can be provided as a key part of the emergency response. 
 VI. Good
Communication
In PFA
Importance of Good Communication in
PFA

 Good Communication 
At times of distress people who have been through a crisis event ma
y  be very upset, anxious or confused;
 Good communication is vital at  these times;
 Stay calm and show understanding of the situation and their
experience.
Importance of Good Communication in
PFA

 Be open to listen to someone’s story but do not force them to tell

you;
  Keep your language simple; communicate well  with words
and body language appropriate to their culture, age, gender, religion
and custom.
VII. How to
Help
Responsibly
using PFA?
Helping responsibly involves 4 Main
Points:

A. Adapt what you do to take account of the person’s culture;

B. Respect safety, dignity and rights
C. Be aware of other emergency response measures;
D. Practice self-care
A. Adapt what you do to take account
of the person’s culture

You may find yourself working with people of backgrounds different

from your own. As a helper, it is important to be aware of your own
cultural background and beliefs so you can set aside your own biases.

Offer help in ways that are most appropriate and comfortable to the
people you are supporting.
See the following box for questions you can consider
in providing PFA in different cultures.
See the following box for questions you can consider
in providing PFA in different cultures.
B. Respect safety, dignity and rights

When you take on the responsibility to help in situations where people

have been affected by a distressing event, it is important to act in ways
that respect the safety, dignity and rights of the people you are
helping.

The following principles apply to any person or agency involved in

humanitarian response, including those who provide PFA:
B. Respect safety, dignity and rights
Helping responsibly involves 4 Main
Points:

Note:
 Keep these principles in mind in all of your actions and with all
people you encounter, whatever their age, gender or ethnic
background;
 Consider what these principles mean in terms of your cultural
context. Know and follow your agency codes of conduct at all
times if you work or volunteer for an agency that has these
codes.
C. Be aware of other emergency
response measures;

Try to be aware of what services and supports may be

available so you can share information with people you are
helping and tell them how to access practical help
C. Be aware of other emergency
response measures;
C. Be aware of other emergency
response measures;

 It is not necessary to have a “psychosocial” background in

order to offer PFA. However, if you want to help in crisis
settings, we recommend that you work through an organization
or community group.
 If you act on your own, you may put yourself at risk, it may
have a negative effect on coordination efforts, and you are
unlikely to be able to link affected people with the resources
and support they need.
D. Practice self-care

 Helping responsibly also means taking care of your own health

and wellbeing.
 As a helper, you may be affected by what you experience in a
crisis situation, or you or your family may be directly affected
by the event
D. Practice self-care

 It is important to pay extra attention to your own wellbeing and

be sure that you are physically and emotionally able to help
others.
 Take care of yourself so that you can best care for others.
 If working in a team, be aware of the wellbeing of your fellow
helpers as well.
VIII. Examples of
how we approach
clients to give PFA
PFA Introduction Examples

 Towards Adult/Caregiver:

“Hello. My name is ___________. I work with __________. I’m

checking in with people to see how they are doing, and to see if I
can help in any way. Is it okay if I talk to you for a few minutes?
May I ask your name? Mrs. Sharma, before we talk, is there
something right now that you need, like some water or fruit
juice?”
PFA Introduction Examples

 Towards Adolescent/Child:

And is this your daughter? (Get on child’s eye level, smile and
greet the child, using her/his name and speaking softly.) Hi Pooja,
I’m ___________ and I’m here to try to help you and your family.
Is there anything you need right now? There is some water and
juice over there, and we have a few blankets and toys in those
boxes
Thank you!