By Luis R. Orozco, LCSW –

Traumatic situations can be disorienting and overwhelming, putting survivors at risk for losing their sense of competence to handle difficult situations. An intervention that is commonly used to immediately address these tough situations is Psychological First Aid.

What is Psychological First Aid?

Psychological First Aid is a supportive intervention for use in the aftermath of a traumatic situation. It can be administered by mental health and disaster response workers (SAMHSA, 2016).

The basic objectives of Psychological First Aid include the following:

  • Establish a human connection in a non-intrusive, empathetic manner.
  • Enhance immediate and ongoing safety; provide emotional support.
  • Calm and orient emotional overwhelmed or distraught survivors.
  • Assist survivors identify their immediate needs and concerns.
  • Offer practical assistance and information to help survivors address their immediate needs and concerns.
  • Connect survivors as soon as possible to social support networks, including family members, friends and community resources.
  • Support adaptive coping, acknowledge coping efforts and empower survivors; encourage survivors to take an active role in their recovery.
  • Provide information that may help survivors cope effectively with the psychological impact of the trauma.
  • Link the survivor to local recovery systems (e.g., mental health services).

Individuals who administer Psychological First Aid encourage survivors to:

  • Get informed –learning common psychological and physiological reactions to traumatic experiences and losses can assist an individual better process the traumatic event.
  • Talk – socializing with others and sharing feelings can be very beneficial.
  • Rest, eat well and exercise – these basic behaviors can help individuals manage stress more adequately.
  • Engage in positive distracting activities (e.g., sports, hobbies and reading).
  • Schedule pleasant activities.
  • Participate in a support group.
  • Use calming self-talk.
  • Engage in self-care.
  • Speak with a mental health professional if needed.

These actions can help to reduce anxiety, lessen other distressing reactions, improve the situation and help people get through tough times. If you or a loved are experiencing a difficult situation and you want to schedule an appointment with a mental health professional, you can contact Whittier Counseling Center at (562) 907-7466. You can also visit our website at whittiercounselingcenter.org .