midterms coverage

PHYSIOLOGICAL FIRST AID 

evidence-informed modular approach

PHYSIOLOGICAL FIRST AID 

to reduce the initial distress set of skills and knowledge

PHYSIOLOGICAL FIRST AID 

supporting and connecting someone to the help they need.

how to assess a situation

about common reactions to crisis

how to provide emotional support and practical help

how to approach someone in distress

how to calm who needs it

pfa skills include knowing: 

volunteers

first responders

members of general public

Who can provide pfa?

centers

facilities

hospital

homes

Where should psychological first aid be used?

• psychological first aid is designed for delivery in diverse setting

basic information gathering

evidence - informed strategies

developmentally and culturally appropriate interventions

supportive handouts

strengths of psychological first aid 

objective of psychological first aid

Establish a Compassionate Connection

objective of psychological first aid

Ensure Safety and Comfort

objective of psychological first aid

Calm and Orient Survivors

objective of psychological first aid

Identify Immediate Needs

objective of psychological first aid

Offer Practical Assistance

objective of psychological first aid

Connect to Social Support

objective of psychological first aid

Support Coping and Empowerment

objective of psychological first aid

Provide Coping Information

objective of psychological first aid

Clarify Availability

observing the situation respectfully without intruding

When delivering Psychological First Aid (PFA), begin by _______________, and ask simple, respectful questions to understand how you can help.

ask simple, respectful questions

• When delivering Psychological First Aid (PFA), begin by observing the situation respectfully without intruding, and ____________ to understand how you can help.

reduce distress

meet immediate needs

asupport adaptive functioning

The primary goal of PFA is to

eye level

When communicating with children, it’s important to engage at their ________and help them express their feelings using simple, age appropriate language

quiet, low-stimulation environment

When assisting individuals with disabilities, try to provide help in a ____________and address the person directly.

stress

The state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives.

stress

It affects both the mind and the body, making excessive stress difficult on your physical and mental health. However, it is important to note that a little bit of stress can be beneficial in our lives.

anxiety

irritability

headaches

body pains

stomach problems

changes in appetite

sleep disturbances

difficulty concentration

increased use of alcohol, tobacco or other substances

some signs of stress can include

acute stress

episodic stress

chronic stress

types of stress

acute stress

short term that comes and goes quickly. It can be positive or negative

episodic acute stress

experience acute stress on a regular basis

chronic stress

long term stress that goes on for week or month

trauma

A deeply distressing or disturbing experience that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope with the situation

trauma

It can be experienced at any age, any time, and can last for a long time even after the traumatic event has happened. However, the degree of the effect will never be the same with every individual

anger

grief

irritable

restless

worried

confused

shame

shock or horror

unsure of what you need or want

hypervigilance

numbness or difficulty feeling any strong emotions

like you have lost your identity or sense of who you are

individuals can have similar experiences, but be affected differently or have different spans of trauma. it can include events where you feel these during or afterwards:

acute trauma

chronic trauma

complex trauma

types of trauma

acute trauma

This results from a single stressful or dangerous event.

chronic trauma

This results from repeated and prolonged exposure to highly stressful events.

complex trauma

This results from exposure to multiple traumatic events.

• Deaths and Natural Disaster

• Violent Crimes

• Sexual Assault and Abuse

• Threats to Public Health, or Campus or Domestic Violence

example of traumatic events

crisis

The state of feeling where it is characterized as an overwhelming emotional distress that is marked by confusion and anxiety where individuals make ineffective decisions when their coping mechanisms fail them.

fear

confusion

shame / guilt

anxiety

helplessness

anger

an individual that is in crisis may experience

maturational crisis

Also known as the Developmental Crisis. The result of normal processes of growth and development

maturational crisis

Example: Birth, Adolescence, Marriage and Death

maturational crisis

situational crisis

social crisis

types of crisis

situational crisis

An unexpected personal stressful event occurs with little advance warning.

situational crisis

Example: Accident, Illness, Lost of a Job, Bankruptcy, Relocation, and Divorce

social crisis

Also known as Adventitious Crisis. It is an event that is uncommon or unanticipated

social crisis

Example: Flood, Fire, Tornado, Hurricane, Earthquake, War, and Rio

adventitious crisis

social crisis is also called as

developmental crisis

maturational crisis is also called as

• safety

• empathy

• naming feelings

• validation

• creativity

supporting strategies when stress, trauma and crisis occur

safety

Acknowledging that individuals that are experiencing crisis and trauma have been in dangerous situations that impacts their perspective of how safe a situation is.

safety

Create a safe space for the individuals by building trust, supporting them emotionally, and taking the extra step to ensure their well-being through physical safety measures.

safety

it is important to respect their preferences and have an individualized approach in making sure that individuals have what they need to feel safe.

empathy

Striving to understand the situation along with the context of the distress by actively listening and validating the individual's feelings.

empathy

should go beyond understanding the immediate emotions of an individual, it should also be about understanding their situation and the context of their distress.

This can involve considering their background, the experience itself, and the challenges they face as they navigate around it

.

naming feelings

Help individuals put a name to their experience or emotions to make sense of their feelings. This can be beneficial in their way of organizing their thought and expressing the way they feel in their situation.

validation

Recognize and affirm the individual’s experience. Give them the opportunity to feel their emotions without judgment or downplaying what they are experiencing

validation

• Employ phrases that will show empathy and understanding: 

  • “I can see why you feel...”

  •  “It makes sense why you feel...”

creativity

Expressing emotions doesn’t have to be through words only, encourage individuals to express themselves on mediums that they are comfortable with. It can be through creative outlets, such as art, music, writing, or other forms of creative expressions

psychological first aid

becoming increasingly popular and recognised more and more as an effective way of helping people in distress all over the world.

look

listen

link

principle of pfa

look

principle which is about gathering information on what has happened

look

principle which is about assessing the situation to help you decide who to offer help to and how to help them

look

principle which involves assessing safety and security risks and making sure you and the person(s) in distress are not in harm’s way

look

principle involved finding out what has happened, and is happening;

look

principle involved assessing if there are physical injuries that need tending to;

look

principle involved finding out if the person(s) have immediate basic and practical needs

look

principle involved assessing what emotional reactions the person is experiencing and what kind of help will be caring and supportive.

information on what has happened and is happening

who needs help

safety and security risks

physical injuries

immediate basic and practical needs

emotional reactions

look for

listen

This refers to the way you communicate with someone from the very first moment you approach and interact with the person in distress

listening

involves all the senses and your behaviour. It means being present, paying attention, understanding their feelings and needs and allowing silence when needed.

Approach someone

Introduce oneself

Pay attention and listen actively

accept other feeling

calm the person in distress

ask about needs and concerns

help the person in distress find solution to their immediate needs and problems

listen refers to how you:

link

This principle focuses on connecting individuals with resources and support systems to help them manage their situation.

link

principle about providing practical support by helping people access the resources they need, such as information, social support, and services.

tackle practical problems & access information

connect with loved ones and social support

access services and other help

Link refers to how you

Crisis

are an inevitable component of one's lives, whether natural disaster or man-made disaster.

effective communication

serves as a “critical tool” amid an unforeseen event.

effective communication skills

The use of ____________ enables the dissemination of truthful and accurate information with regards to a state of disaster.

crisis communication

A deliberate approach in connecting with individuals and organizations amid an adverse occurrence of disaster

crisis communication

goals of _______: to ensure that the accurate and clear message was disseminated

crisis communication

goals of _________: to prevent panic and manage public emotions during and after the uncertainties

crisis communication

goals of ________: to promoter the public safety in times of crisis or disaster

vicarious rehearsal

After a disaster, individuals may mentally rehearse how they would react in future emergencies.

stigmatization

victims may be discriminated against by their communities and denied access to services.

fear and avoidance

The fear of uncertainty is the most debilitating of the psychological responses to disaster

denial

An individual may not take recommended steps to ensure their safety until the absolute last moments.

withdrawal and helplessness

Victims of disaster may withdraw from the social support system since they may feel shame, guilt, and mental exhaustion.

use visuals to enhance your knowledge

show empathy and acknowledge people’s fears .

follow up and provide regular updates

PRACTICAL TIPS AND EXAMPLES FOR EFFECTIVE CRISIS COMMUNICATION

mitigating panic and confusion

building public trust and credibility

facilitating coordinated response efforts

protecting reputation and minimizing damage

supporting psychological recovery

THE IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN CRISIS SITUATIONS

mitigating panic and confusion

importance of effective communication in crisis situation: It can raise awareness and prevent misinformation from spreading, reducing panic or uncertainties.

building public trust and credibility

importance of effective communication in crisis situation: It fosters trust, urging the affected communities to follow and cooperate with the disaster response team.

facilitating coordinated response efforts

importance of effective communication in crisis situation: It ensures that everyone is on the same page, enabling swift coordination or a unified approach among responders.

preventing reputation and minimizing damage

importance of effective communication in crisis situation: It allows the organizations to address concerns proactively, guarding their reputations and limiting the long-term consequences of the crisis.

support psychological recovery

importance of effective communication in crisis situation: It helps address the psychological impact of crises, alleviating feelings of helplessness, by offering mental health services.

• develop a crisis plan

• form a crisis response team

• establishing communication strategies

• measure the impact of the communication strategies

advance strategies for crisis communication

crisis plan

more than just a response and reaction; it’s also about being able to foresee risks and prepare for possible threats.

well functioning crisis team

key to managing crises and emergencies, as this team provides a structured, efficient, and expert-driven response to crises.

establishing communication strategies

This strategy is essential which ensures clarity, coordination, and credibility—helping organizations navigate crises effectively while minimizing damage and disruption.

measure the impact of the communication strategies

Using a data-driven analysis, strategic enhancements can be made to optimize outreach, maximize audience engagement, and increase overall efficiency of crisis management.

Psychological First Aid

is a structured, evidence-based approach aimed at supporting children, adolescents, adults, parents/caretakers, and families in the immediate aftermath of disasters and acts of terrorism.

PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID

It can also be extended to first responders and other disaster relief workers, offering them support in managing stress and coping with the emotional impact of their roles.

PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID

Its purpose is to alleviate initial distress caused by traumatic events while promoting both short- and long-term coping and adaptive functioning.