SMH_Multi-Media Rotator 24

Psychological First Aid (PFA) Resources

Psychological First Aid (PFA) is an evidence-informed[1] modular approach to help children, adolescents, adults, and families in the immediate aftermath of disaster and terrorism. PFA is designed to reduce the initial distress caused by traumatic events and to foster short and long-term adaptive functioning and coping. The principles and techniques of PFA meet four basic standards. They are:

• Consistent with research evidence on risk and resilience following trauma
• Applicable and practical in field settings
• Appropriate for developmental levels across the lifespan
• Culturally informed and delivered in a flexible manner

PFA does not assume that all individuals will develop severe mental health problems or long-term difficulties in recovery. Instead, it is based on an understanding that crisis survivors and others affected by such events will experience a broad range of early reactions (e.g., physical, psychological, behavioral, spiritual). Some of these reactions will cause enough distress to interfere with adaptive coping, and recovery may be helped by support from compassionate and caring crisis responders.

[1] Psychological First Aid is supported by disaster mental health experts as the “acute intervention of choice” when responding to the psychosocial needs of children, adults, and families affected by disaster and terrorism.

From the Psychological First Aid Field Operations Guide, 2nd Edition from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) and the National Center for PTSD, 2006

Resources 

Contact