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DEFINITION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID:

According to WHO (2011), psychological first aid involves humane, supportive and
practical help to fellow human beings suffering serious crisis events. Sphere (2011) and
IASC (2007) mentions also that psychological first aid responds to fellow human beings
who are suffering and who may need support. Psychological First Aid is also given to
people who have experienced an extremely distressing event. Psychological first aid aims
to reduce initial distress, meet current needs, promote flexible coping and encourage
adjustment (American Psychological Society, 2013).
HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID:
Psychological First Aid traces its roots back as early as 1922 when soldiers in the
United States at the War Office were being recognized that the military personnel were
experiencing stress during the war or what they call as combat stress (Main,T. 1989).
Soldiers needed to be made safe, calmed, empowered, connected to loved ones, and
instilled with hope (Main,T.1989). Basically the War Office Program focused on
returning the normal function of the soldiers so that the soldiers could return to work
rather than alleviating the symptoms of stress only. (Main,T. 1989).
The term Psychological First Aid was first coined by Drayer, Cameron, Woodward,
and Glass (1954) in a manuscript they wrote for the American Psychiatric Association on
request of the U.S. Federal Civil Defense Administration. The purpose of the manuscript
was to provide guidance for managing in the aftermath of community disasters. By the
1970's, the principles and foundations of crisis (psychological) intervention were being
utilized in disaster work with adults (Raphael, B. 1978) and in 1988, similar interventions
were being implemented with children (Pynoos, R. & Nader, K. 1988). By 1990
emergency organizations such as the Danish Red Cross were applying the principles as a
preferred model for early intervention following exposure to a traumatic event. (Berliner,
P, Hogsted, R. & Knudsen, L.1997)
According to Mitchell, J. (1997), along with the development of the principles that
we now know as Psychological First Aid, there has been a form of mental health
prevention called Critical Incident Stress Debriefing which became popular in the mid1980's. The origins can be traced to efforts aimed at maintaining group morale and
reducing psychiatric distress amongst soldiers immediately after combat (Mitchell, J.
1997). People from traumatic experiences are encouraged to share their thoughts and

feelings and "debrief" or talk about the trauma that they have just experienced. The
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing program founded on the belief that promptly talking
through traumatic experiences will aid people in recovering from potential psychological
damage. (Everly, G. 1997)

References:
AIPC.(2013) Retrieved from http://www.aipc.net.au/articles/what-is-psychological-firstaid/
Berliner, P., , Hogsted, R., & Knudsen, L. (1997). Psychological first aid and human
support. Copenhagen, Denmark: Danish Red Cross.
Everly, G. (1997). The scientific evidence for critical incident stress management. Journal
of Emergency Medical Service
Main, T. (1989). The ailment and other psychoanalytic essays. London: Free Association
Press
Mitchell, J.T. 1997).The scientific evidence for critical incident stress management.
Journal of Emergency Medical Service
Pynoos, R. S., & Nader, K. (1988). Psychological first aid and treatment approaches to
children exposed to community violence: research implications
Raphael, B. (1978). The Granville train disaster: Psychological needs and their
management
WHO. (2011). Retrieved from
http://www.who.int/mental_health/publications/guide_field_workers/en/

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