Psychological First Aid (PFA)
What is Psychological First Aid?
Psychological First Aid (PFA) is an evidence-informed, modular approach to help children, adolescents, adults, and families in the immediate aftermath of disaster and terrorism. People affected by a disaster or traumatic incident — whether survivors, witnesses, or responders — may struggle or face new challenges afterward. PFA was developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and the National Center for PTSD, with contributions from people involved in disaster research and response.
Why use PFA?
Emotional distress is not always as visible as a physical injury, but it is just as painful and debilitating. After a life-altering experience it is common to be affected emotionally.
- Everybody who experiences a disaster is touched by it.
- Reactions show up differently at different times during and after the incident.
Some common stress reactions include confusion, fear, feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, sleep problems, physical pain, anxiety, anger, grief, shock, aggressiveness, withdrawal, guilt, shaken faith, and loss of confidence in oneself or others.
While physical first aid reduces physical discomfort from a bodily injury, Psychological First Aid is a strategy to reduce the painful range of emotions and responses experienced by people exposed to high stress.
The goal of PFA is to create and sustain an environment of: safety; calm and comfort; connectedness; self-empowerment; and hope.
PFA addresses basic needs and reduces psychological distress by providing a caring, comforting presence and education on common stress reactions. It empowers the individual by supporting their strengths and encouraging existing coping skills, and it provides connections to natural support networks and referrals to professional services when needed.
The eight PFA core actions:
- Contact and engagement: respond to contacts initiated by survivors, or initiate contact in a non-intrusive, compassionate, and helpful way.
- Safety and comfort: enhance immediate and ongoing safety, and provide physical and emotional comfort.
- Stabilization (if needed): calm and orient emotionally overwhelmed or disoriented survivors.
- Information gathering: identify immediate needs and concerns and tailor the PFA response.
- Practical assistance: offer practical help with immediate needs and concerns.
- Connection with social supports: help establish contact with family, friends, and community resources.
- Information on coping: provide information about stress reactions and coping to reduce distress.
- Linkage with collaborative services: link survivors with services needed now or in the future.
Psychological First Aid is a tool each of us can use to reduce our stress level. By understanding your stress reactions and using PFA principles, you can build resilience in yourself, your family, your workplace, and your community.
