Most of us know instinctively what to do if someone falls and bruises their knee. However, when someone experiences mental health challenges, trauma, loss, grief or heartbreak, most people aren’t skilled on how to respond. Emotional wounds may be invisible, but they can be long lasting and pervasive, impacting on many areas of our lives. And because none of us are immune to mental health challenges, it helps to have some psychological first aid skills.
What is Psychological First Aid
Psychological first aid is the psychological equivalent of tending to a wound before it worsens. It’s the immediate compassionate support that we give to someone in distress. While medical first aid aims to preserve physical health, psychological first aid safeguards mental health, helping a person in distress feel safe, calm and supported until more structured support is available.
Why Psychological First Aid Matters
Because we are social beings and encounter people in different areas of life (e.g. work, communities, socially, etc.) psychological first aid is an invaluable skill to learn – also considering that challenges are inevitable in life. It’s not unusual for one to feel helpless and hopeless in the aftermath of a crisis or traumatic event. Without appropriate support, these feelings may intensify, contributing to more serious issues. Psychological first aid acts as an emotional stabilizer, to reduce the immediate distress and help build the foundation for resilience. It can also be empowering in our different environments, because when more people are equipped to offer support, fewer will suffer in silence.
How to Offer Psychological First Aid
Psychological first aid is not therapy, however the qualities of empathy and respect must always be present.
- Ensure their Safety
Ensure that the person feels safe to speak to you, e.g. by ensuring that you are in a private space.
- Listen with Empathy
Most people are just looking to be heard – they’re not really looking for advice. Listen actively, by giving them your undivided attention and validate their emotions. Listening helps one feel supported and reduces feelings of isolation.
- Help Stabilize their Emotions
Offer warmth, presence and reassurance that they are not alone. Speak in a calm voice to help co-regulate. Offer to take a few slow, deep breaths together. If they are catastrophizing, you may guide them through a grounding exercise by naming 5 things that they can see, 4 things that they can feel, 3 things that they can hear, 2 things that they can smell and one thing that they can taste. Remind them that they are safe. Always ask for consent before offering a hug or any kind of touch.
- Assess their Needs
Try to ascertain what sort of support they would most benefit from. Not everyone needs or will benefit from the same type of help. Some may require practical assistance while others may prefer emotional support.
- Connect to Support Systems
Once the immediate crisis stabilizes, help them reconnect with resources. These may include friends, family or professional services. It helps to have a network of referral sources in your area to facilitate referrals.
Psychological first aid is not reserved for mental health professionals. Whatever role you play in your respective communities, it is an important skill to have. We live in a time where crises from personal to global affect us, and knowing psychological first aid is central to hope.
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