Why Psychological First Aid Is Important

Did you know that after traumatic events, approximately 25–33% of individuals can develop stress symptoms like anxiety, depression, or PTSD? This year in Kenya alone, there have been protests, deaths, floods, femicide, and more traumatic events that everyday people have had to work through. We are taking a moment to address the impact these events have on us emotionally and psychologically. Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a crucial tool to help individuals in both the short- and long-term by providing immediate emotional support after a potentially traumatic situation. Communities with trained PFA providers tend to recover faster and experience less psychosocial disruption. Let’s get into the basics!

What is Psychological First Aid (PFA)?

PFA is an evidence-based approach to help individuals during the immediate aftermath of a crisis; PFA is the first line of emotional support before more formal mental health care is provided (where needed). It is founded on five core principles – safety, calm, connectedness, self-efficacy, and hope – which we’ll break down.

Safety

First, ensure that the individual feels safe, both physically and mentally. This requires two things: a secure location and a calming presence. To ensure emotional safety, make sure they are away from loud, crowded places with people talking all at once and rehashing what was happening during the crisis moment. Once they feel safe both physically and emotionally, you can move to the next step

Calm

Try and calm the individual down through reassurance and grounding techniques like deep breathing exercises. This will ensure they’re able to think clearly and feel more in control.

Connectedness

Community helps cushion us against severe mental health outcomes and effects. Isolation is the worst thing that an individual can do after a crisis, so encourage them to reach out to their loved ones and support systems. After the person is calm, ask them who they feel comfortable calling and talking to, and then help them contact them. Community resources, like support groups, are also a valuable source of community.

Self-Efficacy

Encourage the person to make their own decisions. This is key to helping them regain a sense of control and make efforts toward taking practical care of their well-being. A way to start doing this is to avoid making decisions for them and involving them in simple decisions. Try this: “What would you like us to do next?” as opposed to “Let’s do this next.” This will help them bounce back.

Hope

Optimism and hope are indispensable. They help reinforce the idea that help is available, things will improve for the better, the crisis will not last forever, and that they will emerge from this time and be able to move on. Helpful phrases like, “You’ve survived something really hard, and you’re not alone” can help with this!

PFA: The ‘Look, Listen, Link’ Approach

Now that we know the key principles, we can apply them in the ‘Look, Listen, Link’ approach. Developed by the WHO in 2011, this is a practical guide to deliver PFA.

Look

• Assess the situation: ensure the environment is secure for both you and the people in crisis (if it isn’t, try and figure out how to get to a secure, safe environment)

• Identify who needs PFA: look for people who need immediate support, such as people who are crying, shaking disoriented or panicky

• Identify vulnerable individuals: crisis periods can be tough for vulnerable groups like children, people with disabilities, and the elderly – look out for these people and check that they’re safe. If not, help them get secure, both physically and emotionally.

Listen

• Approach gently: ask people if they need support gently and respectfully to ensure they feel safe enough to ask for help or decline

• Ask simple questions: try and get information on how to help simply and briefly. Ask direct, brief questions like, “How can I help?” “Who can I call?” “How are you feeling?”

• Listen actively: give them space to talk without judgement, pressure, and rush. Wait for them to finish before offering your opinion, and ask them what they think about  

• Validate their feelings: affirm their feelings and provide emotional comfort

Link

• Help with the basics: ensure that their basic needs -- like food, water, shelter, necessary medical care – are catered for, and if not, help them talk to their loved ones and support systems to arrange this

• Connect them with community: make sure they connect with their support systems and loved ones, and professional support systems (like therapists) if needed

• Help find resources: provide information about next steps they can take and places they can find accessible assistance

Parting Shot

PFA is not a cure or a full solution, but it is crucial to minimize the emotional fallout that comes after a crisis. By understanding and applying PFA principles, anyone can become a vital resource for someone in need. In times of crisis, small acts of calm, care, and connection can be lifesaving.

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