Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
CSTS | Department of Psychiatry | Uniformed Services University | 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799 | www.CSTSonline.org

Psychological First Aid:
How You Can Support Well-Being
in Disaster Victims
People often experience strong■ Be friendly and compassionate
and unpleasant emotional andeven if people are being
Following a disaster, governments andphysical responses to disasters.
difficult.
relief organizations play an important role
Reactions may include combinations■ Provide accurate informationin reducing distress for both victimsof confusion, fear, hopelessness,about the disaster or trauma
helplessness, sleeplessness, physicaland the broader society.
and the relief efforts. This will
pain, anxiety, anger, grief, shock,help people understand theaggressiveness, mistrustfulness, guilt,
situation.
shame, shaken religious faith, and loss of confidence inConnectedness
self or others. A variety of helpful interventions can assist■ Help people contact friends or loved ones.
individuals and communities to recover.
■ Keep families together; keep children with parents orFollowing a disaster, governments and relief
other close relatives whenever possible.
organizations play an important role in reducing distressfor both victims and the broader society. Ensuring
Self-efficacy
equitable distribution of resources (e.g., food, clothing, andshelter) and prompt access to healthcare increases trust■ Give practical suggestions that encourage people towards
and improves outcomes. Adhering to ethical principles
helping themselves and meeting their own needs.
when providing interventions and relief efforts enhances
community well-being.
Hopefulness
When interacting with individuals affected by a disaster■ Direct people to locations of available government andevent, there is consensus among international disasternon-government services.
experts and researchers that Psychological First Aid (PFA)■ If you know that more help and services are on the way,
can help alleviate painful emotions and reduce further
remind people of this when they express fear or worry.
harm from initial reactions to disasters. Your actions andinteractions with others can help provide PFA to people in
DON’T:
distress, by creating and sustaining an environment of(1) safety, (2) calmness, (3) connectedness to others, (4) self- ■ Force people to share their stories with you, especiallyvery personal details (may decrease calming).
efficacy—or empowerment, and (5) hopefulness. Consider■ Give simple reassurances like “everything will be ok” or
the following suggestions:“at least you survived” (often diminishes calmness).
DO:■ Tell people what you think they should be feeling,
Safety:thinking or doing now or how they should have acted
earlier (decreases self-efficacy).
■ Help people meet basic needs for food and shelter, andobtain emergency medical attention. Provide repeated,■ Tell people why you think they have suffered by giving
simple and accurate information on how to obtain these.
reasons about their personal behaviors or beliefs (alsodecreases self-efficacy).
Calming:■ Make promises that may not be kept (decreases hope).
■ Listen to people who wish to share their stories and■ Criticize existing services or relief activities in front ofemotions; remember there is no wrong or right way topeople in need of these services (diminishes hope andfeel.
calming).