How to Give Psychological First Aid (PFA)

1500 words, 7 min to read
written by Iulia Marcinschi , ILGA-Europe
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TL;DR

Psychological First Aid (PFA) describes a humane, supportive response to a fellow human being who is suffering and who may need support

PFA provides emotional support and helps people address immediate needs and helps them feel less overwhelmed and alone. 

Using PFA in crisis situations, you should look for what’s happening to people, listen to their response, and link them to the help they need

You should always respect people’s dignity and rights when providing PFA

When going to help in a crisis, consider the advantages of working in a team or in pairs

Helping responsibly also means taking care of your own health and wellbeing

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