A. Understanding Psychological First Aid (PFA) PFA is an initial disaster response intervention with the goal to promote safety, stabilize survivors of disasters, and connect individuals to help and resources. PFA is given to affected individuals by mental health professionals and other first responders. The purpose of PFA is to assess the immediate concerns and needs of an individual in the aftermath of a disaster, and not to provide on-site therapy. Psychological First Aid involves humane, supportive, and practical help to fellow human beings suffering serious crisis events. PFA involves the following themes: • Providing practical care and support, which is not intrusive; • Assessing needs and concerns; Training Module on the Right to Mental Health for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) PART I. PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID • Helping people to address basic needs (e.g., food and water, basic information); • Listening to people, but not pressuring them to talk; • Comforting people and helping them to feel calm; • Helping people connect to information, services, and social support; • Protecting people from further harm. It is also important to understand what PFA is NOT: • It is not something that only professionals can do. • It is not professional counselling. • It is not “psychological debriefing” in that PFA does not necessarily involve a detailed discussion of the event that caused the distress. • It is not asking someone to analyze what happened to them or to put time and events in order. • Although PFA involves being available to listen to people’s stories, it is not about pressuring people to vocalize their feelings and reactions to an event. 4