Citation

Birkhead GS, Vermeulen K. Am. J. Public Health 2018; 108(S5): S381-S382.

Affiliation

Guthrie S. Birkhead is with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the Center for Public Health Preparedness, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Rensselaer, NY. Karla Vermeulen is with the Department of Psychology and the Institute for Disaster Mental Health, State University of New York, New Paltz.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, American Public Health Association)

DOI

10.2105/AJPH.2018.304643

PMID

30260696

Abstract

Psychological first aid (PFA) is a set of tools designed to help responders address stress-related reactions among survivors immediately after a disaster or traumatic event. Helping survivors feel safe, reducing stressrelated symptoms, and fostering positive coping strategies enable responders to better meet survivors' basic needs and ensure their linkage to critical resources and social support. These are important steps in initiating the recovery process. Addressing survivors' immediate needs is also important because prolonged stress in the aftermath of a disaster or traumatic event may lead to longer-term mental health problems such as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance use. Early intervention after a disastermay be important to prevent these longterm sequelae. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print September 27, 2018: e1-e2. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2018.304643).

Language: en