Volume 6 Issue 10 October, 2016
Different kinds of distressing events happen in the world, such as war, natural disasters, accidents, fires and interpersonal violence (for example, sexual violence). Individuals, families or entire communities may be affected. People may lose their homes or loved ones, be separated from family and community, or may witness violence, destruction or death.
Psychological first aid (PFA) describes a humane, supportive response to a fellow human being who is suffering and who may need support.
PFA involves factors that seem to be most helpful to people’s long-term recovery. These include: feeling safe, connected to others, calm and hopeful; having access to social, physical and emotional support; and feeling able to help themselves, as individuals and communities. PFA is aimed at helping people who have been very recently affected by a crisis event. providing practical care and support, which does not intrude; assessing needs and concerns; helping people to address basic needs (for example, food and water, information); listening to people, but not pressuring them to talk; comforting people and helping them to feel calm; helping people connect to information, services and social supports; protecting people from further harm.
Providing PFA responsibly means:
- Respect safety, dignity and rights.
- Adapt what you do to take account of the person’s culture.
- be aware of other emergency response measures.
- Look after yourself.
PFA action principles
| Look Eyes: giving the person your undivided attention.  Check for safety.  Check for people with obvious urgent basic needs.  Check for people with serious distress reactions.  | Listen Ear: truly hearing their concerns.  Approach people who may need support.  Ask about people’s needs and concerns.  Listen to people, and help them to feel calm  | Link Heart: caring and showing respect.  Help people address basic needs and access services.  Help people cope with problems.  Give information.  Connect people with loved ones and social support.  |
| Safety Avoid putting people at further risk of harm as a result of your actions. Make sure, to the best of your ability, that the adults and children you help are safe and protect them from physical or psychological harm. ——————————- Dignity Treat people with respect and according to their cultural and Social norms | Rights Making sure people can access help fairly and without discrimination. To Help people to claim their rights and access available support. Action should be only in the best interest of any person encountered. Working through an organization or community group is more effective than working on own, that may put individual at risk, have a negative effect on coordination efforts, success is unlikely in linking affected people with the resources and support they need. | Coping Everyone has natural ways of coping. Encouraging people to use their own positive coping strategies, while avoiding negative strategies. This will help them feel stronger and regain a sense of control. Helping people to help themselves and to regain control of their situation. |
When delivering PFA
| Look after yourself It is important to pay extra attention to your own wellbeing and be sure that you are physically and emotionally able to help others. Take care of yourself so that you can best care for others. You can offer PFA wherever it is safe enough for you to do so. Ideally, try to provide PFA where you can have some privacy to talk with the person when appropriate. Be honest and trustworthy. Respect people’s right to make their own decisions. Be aware of and set aside your own biases and prejudices. Make it clear to people that even if they refuse help now they can still access help in the future. Respect privacy and keep the person’s story confidential, if this is appropriate. Behave appropriately by considering the person’s culture, age and gender. | Being calm and showing understanding It can help people in distress feel more safe and secure, understood, respected and cared for appropriately. To communicate well, be aware of both your words and body language, such as facial expressions, eye contact, gestures, and the way you sit or stand in relation to the other person. Each culture has its own particular ways of behaving that are appropriate and respectful. Speak and behave in ways that take into account the person’s culture, age, gender, customs and religion. |
Dr. Vijayraj. N, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, VIMS, Bellary, KA, drvijayrajn@gmail.com
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