Introduction to
Psychological First
Aid
Presentation by Julie Ann E. Ealdama
What is PFA?
•The Inter-Agency Standing Committee
(IASC) defines Psychological First Aid
(PFA) as a humane and non intrusive way
of treating another individual who may be
suffering from post-traumatic stress
symptoms and therefore is needing
support.
KAMUSTA KA?
What are the core
actions in PFA?
There are 3 core actions in PFA:
LOOK
LISTEN
LINK
CORE ACTIONS
IN PFA
LOOK LISTEN LINK
Ensure Safety, Contact &
Stabilize, Gather information
Practical assistance, Contact to
Engagement regarding current needs and
social support, and link with
concerns , and Support efforts to
services.
coping
Goal:
The goal is to initiate contacts or to
respond to contacts by students
and staff in a non-intrusive,
compassionate and helpful manner,
to enhance immediate and on-
going safety, and provide physical
and emotional comfort.
1. LOOK
The goal is to CALM and ORIENT emotionally
overwhelmed or disoriented students and staff, to
identify immediate needs and concerns and tailor PFA
interventions to meet these needs, to provide
information about stress reactions and coping to
reduce distress and promote adaptive functioning and
to support the positive coping mechanisms they have
already adapted.
2. LISTEN
3. LINK The goal is to offer practical help to
students and staff in addressing
immediate needs and concerns to help
establish brief or ongoing contacts with
primary support persons or other
sources of support including family,
friends, teachers and other
school/community resources, and to link
students and staff with available
services needed at the time or in the
future.
WHO DELIVERS
PFA?
Any staff member, regardless of whether he/she had mental
health training, can deliver aspects of PFA-S and can contribute to
the school recovery by functioning within the PFA framework.
Similarly, trained members of community emergency response
agencies and mental health professionals may provide PFA-S.
During and after the emergency, teachers and other staff are a
critical link in promoting resilience, in recognizing the signs of
traumatic stress, and in helping students and their families regain
a sense of NORMALCY.
Thank You!