Psychological First Aid
PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID
Lecture of: Thelma Singson - Barrera
What is Psychological First Aid?
[1] 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. • Psychological First Aid – is simply a “first-aid” response aimed to *stabilize, *reduce symptoms and *return the survivor to functional capacity in the aftermath of a critical incident.
Psychological first aid (PFA) is an evidence informed approach to assisting individuals and families in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. It is based on five principles to guide post-disaster interventions: 1. Promoting a sense of safety; 2. Promoting calming; 3. Promoting a sense of self- and community-efficacy; 4. Promoting connectedness; and 5. Instilling hope.
Given that most people will regain a sense of wellbeing on their own, PFA focuses on enhancing resilience and naturally occurring resources rather than assuming that all survivors will develop mental health problems or long-term difficulties. PFA is appropriate for use with disaster survivors of all ages, and is designed to reduce initial distress and foster short and long-term adaptive functioning. It is typically delivered by generalist health and disaster response workers, with back up and supervision from mental health professionals.
Psychological First Aid does not presume all survivors will develop severe psychopathology, but instead fosters an understanding that disaster survivors, and others impacted by such events, will experience a broad range of reactions (e.g. physical, psychological, cognitive, spiritual). Some of these reactions will cause sufficient distress for the individual and may be alleviated by support from compassionate and caring disaster responder
Who is Psychological First Aid For?
Psychological First Aid intervention strategies are intended for use with children, adolescents,
Lecture of: Thelma Singson - Barrera
What is Psychological First Aid?
[1] 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. • Psychological First Aid – is simply a “first-aid” response aimed to *stabilize, *reduce symptoms and *return the survivor to functional capacity in the aftermath of a critical incident.
Psychological first aid (PFA) is an evidence informed approach to assisting individuals and families in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. It is based on five principles to guide post-disaster interventions: 1. Promoting a sense of safety; 2. Promoting calming; 3. Promoting a sense of self- and community-efficacy; 4. Promoting connectedness; and 5. Instilling hope.
Given that most people will regain a sense of wellbeing on their own, PFA focuses on enhancing resilience and naturally occurring resources rather than assuming that all survivors will develop mental health problems or long-term difficulties. PFA is appropriate for use with disaster survivors of all ages, and is designed to reduce initial distress and foster short and long-term adaptive functioning. It is typically delivered by generalist health and disaster response workers, with back up and supervision from mental health professionals.
Psychological First Aid does not presume all survivors will develop severe psychopathology, but instead fosters an understanding that disaster survivors, and others impacted by such events, will experience a broad range of reactions (e.g. physical, psychological, cognitive, spiritual). Some of these reactions will cause sufficient distress for the individual and may be alleviated by support from compassionate and caring disaster responder
Who is Psychological First Aid For?
Psychological First Aid intervention strategies are intended for use with children, adolescents,