Psychological First Aid and Its Role in Providing Immediate Mental Health Support in Emergency Settings: Implications for Addressing PTSD and Acute Stress in Crisis Situations

Background: Traumatic events, such as natural disasters, violence, and severe illness, significantly impact mental health, leading to conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute stress reactions. With a substantial portion of the population exposed to trauma, effective initial psychological interventions are crucial for mitigating these effects. Methods: This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Psychological First Aid (PFA) in providing immediate support to individuals affected by trauma. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsychINFO, focusing on studies published from 2000 to 2023 that assess the implementation and outcomes of PFA interventions. Results: The findings indicate that PFA is an effective early intervention strategy that reduces anxiety and promotes adaptive functioning in individuals following traumatic experiences. PFA's core components—safety, calm, self-efficacy, connection, and hope—are consistently identified as critical to its success. While the immediate benefits of PFA are well-documented, evidence regarding its long-term efficacy in preventing PTSD remains inconclusive.
Conclusion: Psychological First Aid serves as a vital tool in emergency settings, providing immediate support to those affected by trauma. Despite its widespread use, further research is needed to establish standardized protocols for PFA implementation and to evaluate its long-term impact on mental health outcomes. Enhancing training for non-specialist providers and addressing barriers to effective PFA delivery are essential steps toward improving mental health support in crisis situations.