Psychological First Aid (PFA) Look, Listen & Link in Psychological First Aid
Psychological First Aid is an evidence-informed modular approach to help children, adolescents, adults, and families in the immediate aftermath of disaster and terrorism. 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. Principles and techniques of Psychological First Aid meet four basic standards. They are:
- Consistent with research evidence on risk and resilience following trauma
- Applicable and practical in field settings
- Appropriate for developmental levels across the lifespan
- Culturally informed and delivered in a flexible manner
PFA is not traditional psychiatric or professional mental health treatment, but rather a strategy to reduce stress reactions by providing additional support to those who have been affected by a traumatic or emergency incident.
Psychological First Aid does not assume that all survivors will develop severe mental health problems or long-term difficulties in recovery. Instead, it is based on an understanding that disaster survivors and others affected by such events will experience a broad range of early reactions (for example, physical, psychological, behavioral, spiritual). Some of these reactions will cause enough distress to interfere with adaptive coping, and recovery may be helped by support from compassionate and caring disaster responders.
Psychological First Aid is designed for delivery in diverse settings. Mental health and other disaster response workers may be called upon to provide Psychological First Aid in general population shelters, special needs shelters, field hospitals and medical triage areas, acute care facilities (for example, Emergency Departments), staging areas or respite centers for first responders or other relief workers, emergency operations centers, crisis hotlines or phone banks, feeding locations, disaster assistance service centers, family reception and assistance centers, homes, businesses, and other community settings. For more information on the challenges of providing Psychological First Aid in various service settings
STEPS OF PFA
1. LOOK
2. LISTEN
3. LINK
1. LOOK (Pay attention to a situation)
Establish what has or is happening.
Establish who needs help.
Identify safety and security risks.
Identify physical injuries.
Identify immediate basic and practical needs.
Observe emotional reactions.
2. LISTEN (Pay attention to the person)
Introduce yourself.
Pay attention and listen actively.
Accept others’ feelings.
Calm the person in distress.
Ask about needs and concerns.
Help the person(s) in distress to find solutions to their needs and problems.
3. LINK (Take action to help)
Find information.
Connect with the person’s loved ones and social support.
Tackle practical problems.
Obtain services and other help.