PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID: A PRE-EMINENT SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR LIFE

Author Name: 1. Mr Libin Babu, 2. Dr. Chithra R. A, 3. Dr. Perpetua R Fernandes, 4. Shabih Zehra, 5. Ms. Rupali Bhausaheb Chavan, 6. Shruthi Nagaraja Shetty

Volume/Issue: 04/04

Country: India

DOI NO.: 08.2020-25662434 DOI Link: https://doi-ds.org/doilink/09.2023-22186466/UIJIR

Affiliation:

1. Associate Professor, Era College of Nursing, Era University Lucknow, India. libinaramal@gmail.com
2. Lecturer, College of Applied Medical Science, King Khalid University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. cthekkathil@kku.edu.sa
3. Prof cum Vice-Principal, Institute of Nursing Education and Research, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune, Maharashtra, India. perpetuar_fernandes@yahoo.com
4. Assistant professor, Era college of Nursing, Era University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. shabihzehra90@gmail.com
5. Professor, SMBT Institute of Nursing, Nashik, Maharashtra, India. chaugulerupali@gmail.com
6. D Scholar, Parul Institute of Nursing, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India. nshetty.shruthi@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

With recent modifications for disaster responders, psychological first aid (PFA) has emerged as the preeminent early intervention for catastrophe survivors in the calamites seen world-wide. PFA is incorporated into recommendations for mental health and psychosocial care in disasters and extreme events and is largely supported by professional opinion. PFA frameworks are becoming more and more common, with a growing number of models being created for use with an expanding range of target groups by a variety of providers. Recent independent assessments of PFA have brought attention to this crucial gap in the evidence despite its popularity and marketing. This commentary contrasts the widespread use of PFA with the urgent need to establish proof of its efficacy and offers a number of strategies to prioritise and hasten real-time, on-the-ground field assessment.

Key words: First aid for mental health, first aid for stress, early detection, the five pillars, proof, and assessment