According to the World Health Organization, PFA “involves humane, supportive and practical help to fellow human beings who have suffered a serious crisis event”.
PFA involves looking, listening and linking when helping someone who has suffered a crisis event. It involves helping people responsibly - respecting their safety, dignity and rights - whilst also looking after your own health and wellbeing. It emphasizes listening rather than putting pressure on the affected person to speak. The steps include:
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Psychological First Aid
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Look
- Check for safety
- Check for people with obvious urgent basic needs
- Check for people with serious distress reactions
Listen
- Approach people who may need support
- Ask about people’s needs and concerns
- Listen to people, and help them to feel calm
Link
- Help people address basic needs and access services
- Help people cope with problems
- Give information
- Connect people with loved ones and social support
Some people may require special attention in a crisis e.g. children and adolescents, people with health conditions and disabilities, older people and people at risk of discrimination and/or violence.
Though a specific health or social care background is not required to offer PFA, it is recommended that any work done in crisis settings is done with the support of an organisation or community group.
For further information, refer to the WHO publication Psychological first aid: Guide for field workers (2011), free to download from the WHO website