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!