What is PFA?

Psychological First Aid is a set of evidence‑informed actions and communication strategies designed for use by trained and non‑specialist responders. Unlike psychotherapy, PFA focuses on immediate stabilization, practical support, and linking people with resources rather than in‑depth trauma processing.

Core principles

• Safety: ensure physical safety and security of affected people.
• Calm: reduce acute arousal and help people regain a sense of control.
• Connectedness: re‑establish social supports and contacts.
• Self‑efficacy: support problem solving and empowerment.
• Hope: foster realistic optimism and practical next steps.

Practical PFA steps — Look, Listen, Link

1. Look: observe for safety risks, urgent medical needs, and people who may be vulnerable (children, elderly, injured, those with disabilities).
2. Listen: approach calmly, introduce yourself, ask what happened and what their immediate concerns are; use active listening and validate feelings without pushing for details.
3. Link: provide practical assistance (water, warmth, information), connect to loved ones and services, and explain next steps and available supports.

Specific tasks for responders

• Provide brief comfort and stabilisation: grounding, breathing exercises, and orienting information (where to go, who to contact).
• Assist with immediate needs: shelter, food, medical care, and childcare arrangements.
• Identify people at high risk: severe injury, suicidal ideation, psychosis, or inability to care for self—arrange urgent referral.
• Facilitate reunification with family where possible and help with communication (phone charging, message relay).
• Provide psychoeducation about normal stress reactions and what to expect in the following days/weeks.

Communication tips

• Use clear, simple language and short sentences. Avoid minimizing language (“it could be worse”).
• Respect privacy and ask permission before touching or taking action; maintain cultural sensitivity.
• Be honest about what you can and cannot provide; set realistic expectations.
• Offer choices when possible to support agency (“Would you like water or a blanket?”).

When not to use PFA alone

• PFA is not a substitute for specialised mental health care—refer people with persistent severe symptoms or complex needs.
• Avoid detailed trauma recollection in the immediate aftermath—this may increase distress; trauma processing should be deferred to trained clinicians.

Training & preparedness for PFA

• Train volunteers and staff in PFA principles, cultural competence, and safety protocols.
• Embed PFA in disaster response plans—ensure supplies (blankets, water, mobile chargers), communication tools and referral lists are available.
• Run simulations and debriefs to build responder confidence and manage vicarious stress.

Cultural & ethical considerations

• Respect cultural norms about touching, gender interactions and disclosure; use interpreters where language is a barrier.
• Confidentiality limits apply in crisis—explain obligations (safety, child protection) and seek consent for information sharing when possible.
• Avoid imposing assumptions—ask what the person needs and adapt support accordingly.

Resources & further reading

• WHO: Psychological First Aid: Guide for Field Workers (adapt locally).
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network / UCLA: PFA Field Operations Guide.
• Local disaster response plans, mental health referral directories and crisis hotlines.

Key takeaways

• PFA provides immediate, practical, humane support to reduce distress and connect people to help during crises.
• Use Look, Listen, Link: ensure safety, listen with empathy, provide practical assistance and link to services.
• Train responders, integrate cultural sensitivity, and escalate urgent risks promptly to medical or mental health specialists.