Psychological First Aid (PFA) in disasterPsychological First

AidP.Dharani NivedithaMAM-14-006Dept. of Genetics andPlant Breeding

• Psychology • the science of the mind or of mental states and processes.

• First-aid• emergency treatment given to a sick or injured person

                 

WHAT IS THE NEED

                                         ?

                           PFA

“A human supportive response to a fellow human being who is suffering and who may need support”

–Knowing PFA will allow you to:

Create a compassionate environment for yourself, fellow responders, and disaster survivors.

Assess what a person might need & give immediate support.

Help develop good coping mechanisms.

Disaster

Disaster

Response

Recovery

Mitigation

Preparedness

• is a severe destruction that greatly exceeds the coping capacity of the affected community

  Killed by disaster Affected by disaster

• A report published in 1996 states that 66% of the tornado

affected people were psychologically traumatized in the costal

area

• 2007 - Super cyclone ‘Sidr’ changed the views regarding post

disaster mental health service.

• Technical and financial support came from World Psychiatric

Association (WPA)

• Multiple teams rushed to the affected area to provide mental

health services

Some facts…….

Training Manuals

DISASTER PSYCHIATRY

Normal reactive process

• Most recovers  within 6 to 16 months

• Common stress reactionsEmotional , Cognitive, Physical, Interpersonal

• Post traumatic growth/benefited response

Psychological Treatment

Psychological responses

Within 24hrs

Within days to weeks

After 3 weeks

Psychiatric response

• Acute stress disorder• Substance abuse• Psychological disorder • Adjustment disorder• Family violence• Child and spouse abuse

Psychosocial intervention

. Psychological first aid (PFA)• Trauma counseling • Greif counseling• Anticipatory guidance• Crisis counseling• Problem solving counseling

Psychological First Aid (PFA)

PFAElements. Care and support• Needs and concerns• Address basic needs• Listening to people, not pressuring • Comforting people and helping them to feel calm• Helping people connect to information, service and social 

support•  Protecting from further harm 

PFA

Who need immediately

• Serious life threatening injuries• So upset, cant care themselves and family• May hurt self/others

 

PFA

When and where

• Recently affected• Sometimes days or weeks after• Scene of accident/disaster• Health center, shelter/camps etc

PFAProviding PFA….

• Preparation• Good communication • PFA action principal• Ending help• Who likely need special attention

Providing PFA

Preparation

• know about crisis• know about available service and support• know about safety and security concern

Providing PFA

Good communication

• Basics of communication skill• Don’t pressure• Don’t think you must solve all problems• Don’t give false promise

Providing PFA

Action principal

Providing PFA

Ending help

.Depends on the context of crisis

.Individual’s role and situation

.Needs of the people 

Providing PFA

Special attention group

• Child adolescent group• People with health conditions/disabilities• People at risk/discrimination/violence

Caring for self and colleague

• Be friendly• Managing stress

Disaster   Vs    Healthy Body & Mind 

“ SOCIAL WEAPON ”

Resilience 

After providing PFA…..

PFA

What PFA is not

• Not only professionals do• Not a professional counseling• Not  “Psychological debriefing” • Not asking, analyzing, put in order • Available to listen but  not pressuring to talk 

THAN

K U