Psychological first aid is a simple, yet powerful way of helping someone in distress. It involves paying attention to the person’s reactions, active listening and if relevant, practical assistance to help address immediate problems and basic needs. Learning psychological first aid skills and understanding reactions to crises empowers helpers to help others and apply the same skills to their own lives.
Psychological First Aid for Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has several parts that can be used separately or together. It includes an introductory guide, a short booklet and four training modules. The first two training modules cover basic PFA skills, the third is on PFA for children and the fourth on providing PFA in groups and supporting teams. This guide has general information about psychological first aid. It can be used on its own for psycho-education and as a reference for the training modules that accompany it. The training modules include instructions, notes, and training resources for the facilitators.