Photo Credit: IRC
An important aspect of good communication is providing Psychological First Aid (PFA). As a digital community liaison, the people you communicate with will be from many different backgrounds and face a variety of challenges and barriers and often they need someone who will take the time to listen with no judgement. By following the helping techniques that you will learn through PFA training for Signpost DLCs you will be able to create a safe and open environment for users to express their feelings, emotions and hopefully reduce initial distress.
What is PFA?
Psychological First Aid (PFA) is an evidence-informed approach for assisting people in the immediate aftermath of disasters, emergencies or crises, to reduce initial distress and to foster short and long-term adaptive functioning. PFA is not psychosocial counseling or psychotherapy.
- PFA allows for people to express their feelings or emotions and gives space for them to do so. In other words, staff do not push or probe clients regarding their emotions but if clients begin expressing emotions or talking about these things, they give them the time and space to do so.
- PFA is designed to provide practical, basic support to people who are in distress, or in the aftermath of a traumatic event. PFA recognizes that providing this support has a positive psychological benefit and also prevents future emotional or mental health crises.
- PFA is something that we can all do. It is not only for trained mental health and psychosocial support professionals.
- The word psychological is used in ‘Psychological First Aid’ because the evidence shows that this approach has psychological benefits, however it is important to note that PFA is not a specialized mental health and psychosocial support intervention. Importantly, it is non-intrusive and moderators should not be focusing on people’s psychological health needs, pressuring them to talk or probing for how they are feeling.
| PFA is... | PFA is NOT... |
|
Providing non-intrusive, practical care and support |
Something that only professionals can do |
| Assessing needs and concerns | Psychosocial counseling or psychotherapy |
| Helping people to address basic needs (food, shelter, medical treatment, information) | A detailed discussion of the event that caused the distress |
| Listening to people, but not pressuring them to talk | Asking someone to analyze what happened to them or to put time and events in order |
| Comforting people and helping them to feel calm | About pressuring people to tell you their feelings and reactions to an event |
| Helping people connect to information, services and social supports | Having all of the answers to questions or being able to provide all of the things someone needs |