Contact and Engagement
Establishing initial contact with affected individuals.
In the Contact and Engagement stage of Psychological First Aid (PFA), the goal is to respond to contacts initiated by survivors or to initiate contacts in a nonintrusive, compassionate, and helpful manner. Establishing an effective helping relationship during this initial contact is crucial, as it can increase the person’s receptiveness to further help.
Here are some key actions and considerations for this stage:
Introduce Yourself and Ask about Immediate Needs
- Introduce yourself with your name, title, and describe your role.
- Ask for permission to talk to the survivor and explain that you are there to see if you can be of help.
- Address adult survivors using last names unless given permission otherwise.
- Invite the person to sit, ensure some level of privacy for the conversation, and give them your full attention.
- Speak softly and calmly, refraining from looking around or being distracted.
- Find out whether there is any pressing problem that needs immediate attention. Immediate medical concerns take top priority.
- When contacting children or adolescents, it’s good practice to first connect with a parent or accompanying adult to explain your role and seek permission. If speaking with a distressed child without an adult present, find a parent or caregiver as soon as possible to inform them about your conversation.
Culture Awareness
- Be mindful that appropriate physical or personal contact may vary across cultures and social groups.
- Avoid approaching too closely, making prolonged eye contact, or touching unless you are familiar with the survivor’s culture.
- Seek guidance about cultural norms from community cultural leaders who understand local customs.
Timing and Respect for Survivor’s Receptiveness
- Some survivors may not actively seek help but could benefit from assistance.
- Respect their decision if they decline your offer of help.
- Indicate when and where they can locate a Psychological First Aid provider later on.
Safety and Comfort
Ensuring their safety and providing comfort
Psychological First Aid (PFA) aims to enhance immediate and ongoing safety while providing physical and emotional comfort to survivors. After a traumatic event, restoring a sense of safety becomes crucial. By promoting safety and comfort, we can reduce distress and worry. Here are some key actions during this stage:
Ensure Immediate Physical Safety
- Make sure individuals and families are physically safe to the extent possible.
- Reorganize the immediate environment to increase physical and emotional safety.
- Remove hazards such as broken glass, sharp objects, or spilled liquids.
- Supervise children and create a safe play area for them.
- Be aware of vulnerable subgroups (e.g., elderly or disabled individuals) and address their specific needs.
Support Emotional Comfort
- Assist survivors in coping by identifying their strengths and exploring coping options.
- Provide accurate, up-to-date information while avoiding excessive exposure to distressing details.
- Connect survivors with practical resources.
- Share information about how responders are making the situation safer.
- Facilitate connections with others who have shared similar experiences.
Stabilization
Helping stabilize their emotional state
Stabilization is a critical component of psychological first aid, especially in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event. Its goal is to calm and orient emotionally overwhelmed or disoriented survivors, providing them with the necessary support to manage intense stress reactions. While most individuals affected by disasters will not require stabilization, it becomes essential for those whose reactions significantly interfere with their ability to function.
Here are some key actions during the stabilization stage:
Respect Privacy and Allow Space
When encountering a distressed individual, respect their privacy. Give them a few minutes before intervening. This allows them time to collect themselves and process their emotions.
Remain Calm and Present
Rather than directly engaging in conversation, stand close by while being calm and quiet. Avoid contributing to cognitive or emotional overload. Sometimes just your presence can provide comfort.
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