MALABAR COLLEGE OF COMMERCE & SCIENCE, MANOOR
PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST- AID
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID
Module- 1
Psychological First Aid:
Psychological first aid (PFA) is an evidence-informed approach that is built on
the concept of human resilience. PFA aims to reduce stress symptoms and assist
in a healthy recovery following a traumatic event, natural disaster, public health
emergency, or even a personal crisis.
The goal of psychological first aid is to create and sustain an environment of:
Safety
Comfort
Connectedness
Self-empowerment
Hope
Psychological first aid addresses basic needs and reduces psychological
distress by providing a caring comforting presence, and education on
common stress reactions.
It empowers the individual by supporting strengths and encouraging existing
coping skills.
It also provides connections to natural support networks, and referrals to
professional services when needed.
Each of us can use psychological first aid to reduce our stress level.
By understanding your stress reactions and utilizing psychological first aid
principles, you can enhance resilience in yourself, your family, workplace,
and community.
CORE COMPETENCIES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID
Psychological First Aid (PFA) is an evidence-informed approach designed to
reduce acute distress and promote adaptive functioning in the immediate
aftermath of a crisis or traumatic event. It focuses on humane, supportive, and
practical assistance.
The core competencies of PFA can be broken down into five primary domains:
1. The Core Action Principles
The internationally recognized framework (often used by the World Health
Organization) revolves around three basic action principles:
Look: Observe the environment for safety hazards, identify who
needs immediate help, and check for signs of serious distress or basic
physical needs.
Listen: Approach individuals respectfully, ask about their needs and
concerns, listen actively, and help them feel calm without pressuring
them to talk.
Link: Help individuals access essential resources, connect with loved
ones or social support systems, and deal with practical problems.
2. Knowledge-Based Competencies
A competent PFA provider must understand:
Human Reactions: How people typically respond to stress, trauma, and
crises (e.g., fear, confusion, grief, and sleep disturbances).
The 5 Essential Elements: Foundational PFA principles formulated by
disaster researchers: promoting Safety, Calmness, Connectedness, Self-
efficacy, and Hope.
Available Resources: Awareness of local medical, psychological, and
social services for potential referral.
3. Skill-Based Competencies :
These represent the active capabilities a helper puts into practice:
Active Listening: Using verbal and non-verbal cues to show empathy
and attentiveness.
Stabilization: Grounding and calming techniques to reduce acute
distress.
Practical Problem Solving: Assisting survivors in taking small,
manageable steps to address their immediate, basic needs (e.g., food,
shelter, contacting family).
Screening & Referral: Distinguishing between functional and
dysfunctional behavior to determine when professional mental health
intervention is required.
4. Attitudinal & Ethical Competencies
These ensure that support is given respectfully and without causing further
harm:
Cultural Sensitivity: Adapting your approach to respect the individual's
cultural, ethnic, and developmental background.
Ethical Boundaries: Obtaining consent, maintaining privacy and
confidentiality, avoiding false promises, and never forcing someone to
share their story.
Compassion and Respect: Being patient, non-judgmental, and
demonstrating a caring presence.
5. Self-Care Competencies
Crisis response can be taxing, so PFA providers must be equipped to:
Manage Personal Stress: Avoiding burnout, trauma fatigue, and
maintaining healthy boundaries while offering support.
Seek Support: Utilizing rest, peer consultation, and reflective practices.
COMMUNITY BASED PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID
Community-Based Psychological First Aid (PFA) is an evidence-
based, humane, and supportive approach designed to help individuals in
the immediate aftermath of a crisis, disaster, or traumatic event.
It requires no advanced psychological training and focuses on reducing
initial distress, fostering short- and long-term coping skills, and
promoting natural recovery.
Community-Based PFA is built around three fundamental principles:
Look, Listen, and Link.
When administering PFA in a community setting, helpers typically follow
these eight core actions:
Contact & Engagement: Approach individuals in a non-intrusive,
compassionate, and helpful manner.
Safety & Comfort: Ensure immediate physical and emotional safety by
removing individuals from immediate danger if necessary.
Stabilization: Help calm and orient emotionally overwhelmed or
disoriented individuals.
Information Gathering: Identify specific immediate needs, concerns,
and basic requirements (food, water, shelter).
Practical Assistance: Provide concrete, actionable help to address those
immediate needs.
Social Support: Reconnect survivors with family, friends, and trusted
community members.
Psycho-education: Provide basic information about stress reactions and
coping mechanisms.
Linkage to Collaborative Services: Help individuals access specialized
or ongoing health and mental health services if required.
ART OF HELPING- CHARACTERISTICS OF HELPERS
The art of helping is an intentional, one-way process focused on facilitating a
helpee's personal growth, resolving issues, and achieving mutually agreed goals.
Effective helpers blend clinical empathy, active listening, and strong
boundary setting with a deep sense of self-awareness and psychological
wellness.
The core characteristics that define skilled helpers encompass the following
foundational traits:
1. Core Interpersonal Qualities
Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings and
motivations of another without judgment. It bridges the gap between the
helper and helpee.
Genuineness & Authenticity: Being sincere and real in interactions,
which fosters trust and encourages open disclosure.
Respect & Positive Regard: Valuing clients as individuals with their
own unique experiences and worldviews, regardless of differing beliefs.
2. Cognitive & Analytical Skills
Active Listening: Fully concentrating on verbal and non-verbal cues to
accurately comprehend the helpee's situation.
Cognitive Complexity: Multidimensional thinking that allows the helper
to analyze complex situations flexibly, adapt to new contexts, and avoid
rigid thinking.
Patience: Being tolerant and calm when progress is slow or clients are
struggling to articulate their emotions.
3. Professional & Personal Attributes
Boundary Setting: The capacity to maintain professional distance and
prevent burnout while remaining deeply supportive.
Self-Awareness: A secure understanding of one's own values, biases, and
psychological health, ensuring the focus remains on the client's welfare
rather than the helper's need for approval.
Wellness & Self-Care: Practicing effective stress and time management
to ensure the helper remains capable, present, and emotionally resilient.