Most psychological debriefing interventions involve a single session which might last between one and three hours, in the days immediately following a traumatic event.
Psychological First Aid (PFA): First-Line Psychosocial Support -PFA is important, first-line psychosocial support for people affected by crisis events. PFA, like medical “first aid”, is not enough on its own. Immediately after a crisis event, those who assist are often family members, neighbors, teachers, community members, and first responders of various kinds (emergency medical teams, police, firefighters.
Crisis events- both large-scale and individual crisis occur in every community in the world- Large-scale events include natural disasters, war, and terrorist attacks, disease outbreaks, large scale displacement of people and communities. Individual events affect one or a few people, such as accidents, robbery, assault. They have physical, social, and emotional consequences for those affected.
What is PFA- Humane, supportive & practical assistance to fellow human beings who recently suffered a serious stressor: It is non-intrusive, practical care and support; assessing needs and concerns; helping people to address basic needs (food, water); listening, but not pressuring people to talk; comforting people and helping them to feel calm; helping people connect to information, services, and social supports; and Protecting people from further harm.
What PFA is NOT? NOT something only professionals can do; NOT professional counseling; NOT a clinical or psychiatric intervention (although can be part of good clinical care); NOT “psychological debriefing”; NOT asking people to analyze what happened or put time and events in order; NOT pressuring people to tell you their story, or asking details about how they feel or what happened.
Who Does PFA?- PFA can be provided by professionals and nonprofessionals alike; everyone should have access to PFA following a crisis event, as part of the spectrum of mental health and psychosocial support.
Why PFA? People do better over the long term if they: Feel safe, connected to others, calm & hopeful; have access to social, physical & emotional support; and regain a sense of control by being able to help themselves.
Who can benefit from PFA? - Boys, girls, women, and men who have recently experienced a crisis event and are distressed. Some people need more than PFA alone such as people with life-threatening injuries or unable to care for themselves or their children.
When should PFA be provided? - When encountering a person in distress, usually immediately following a crisis event.
Where PFA should be provided? - Anywhere that is safe for the helper and affected person, ideally with some privacy as appropriate to the situation.
How to Help responsibly? - Adapt what you do to take account of the person’s culture, respect safety, dignity, and rights. Safety: don’t expose people to further harm, ensure (as best you can) they are safe and protected from further physical or psychological harm. Dignity: treat people with respect and according to their cultural and social norms. Rights: act only in people’s best interest, ensure access to impartial assistance without discrimination, assist people to claim their rights, and access available support.
Who needs PFA? -Any person can become a victim of crisis require PFA. Many individuals can experience symptoms associated with painful and traumatic circumstances. Anxiety, fear, and hopelessness are a few emotions that can linger post traumatic events. We can help you overcome these symptoms and guide you through the process of grief and healing. Most psychological debriefing interventions involve a single session which might last between one and three hours, in the days immediately following a traumatic event. Psychological debriefing is a formal version of providing emotional and psychological support immediately following a traumatic event; the goal of psychological debriefing is to prevent the development of post-traumatic stress disorder and other negative consequences.
Share with a Counsellor- has a Call Center that can be adopted and used through the government of other partners to provide Psychological First Aid. However, individual clients in their own right go through crises now and then and therefore need PFA; such as a diagnosis with Covid- 19, death of kin, loss of a job or relationship, etc. You don’t need a new brief to alert you it’s time to seek PFA, make it a personal initiative to keep the Share with a Counsellor App ready for use, allowing it serves as an emotional ambulance. Seek help!!! seek help !!!! seek help it right on your phone.
