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What Is Psychological First Aid?
PFA follows eight core actions:
PFA is not professionalmental health care.
In fact, laypeople (people without professional credentials) often perform it.
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History
As a concept, PFA was introduced in the mid-20th century.
However, it gained traction as a disaster response in the post-9/11 era.
“Psychological first aid” is the most widely used term to describe immediate emotional support following a crisis.
However, other terms are also used, including:
When Is It Used?
PFA benefits anyone who has survived or witnessed a traumatic event, including people of any age and gender.
By reducing their immediate stress through PFA, they may have a better ability to cope long-term.
Common stress reactions include:
Who Does It?
Anyone can be trained in psychological first aid.
Thats because each situation is unique.
Responders never force people to interact or tell them how to feel or what they should do.
The researchers recommended further research to determine PFAs effectiveness.
PFA is based on well-established concepts of humanresilience.
In addition, mental health and disaster research and response organizations developed PFA.
Therefore, the practice is based on existing knowledge and real-life experience.
PFA is an essential skill that nearly anyone can learn.
However, it is crucial for first responders, medical workers, and disaster relief workers.
Several organizations offer PFA training.
If you are interested, theAmerican Psychological Associationhas a list of the training provided by various organizations.
Shultz JM, Forbes D.Psychological first aid: Rapid proliferation and the search for evidence.Disaster Health.
2014;2(1):3-12. doi:10.4161/dish.26006
National Child Traumatic Stress internet.About PFA.
World Health Organization.Psychological first aid: Guide for field workers.
Minnesota Department of Health.Psychological first aid (PFA).
Department of Veterans Affairs.Psychological first aid (PFA) manual.
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.Providing psychological first aid (PFA).
2023 Feb;36(1):5-16. doi:10.1002/jts.22888.
American Psychological Association.Disaster mental health training for psychologists.
