Psychological first aid following trauma: implementation and evaluation framework for high-risk organizations

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Disaster Mental Health
• Clinical Interventions

Background:

• International guidelines recommend Psychological First Aid (PFA) for psychological trauma survivors.
• Current evidence supporting PFA effectiveness is limited due to intervention complexity and evaluation challenges.
• There is an urgent need for robust evidence on PFA efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a framework for implementing and evaluating Psychological First Aid (PFA) in high-risk organizational settings.
• To introduce a phased approach to PFA implementation, incorporating pre-event and post-event actions.
• To provide a model for evaluating PFA effectiveness using a logic- or theory-based approach.

Main Methods:

• The paper outlines a phased PFA implementation model (Phases 1-4).
• Phases 1 and 2 focus on pre-event preparedness.
• Phases 3 and 4 address post-event actions and evaluation.
• A logic- or theory-based evaluation approach is proposed, considering pre- and post-event factors.

Main Results:

• The paper presents a novel phased framework for PFA implementation in high-risk settings.
• A model for evaluating PFA effectiveness is detailed, integrating pre- and post-event considerations.
• The proposed approach aims to facilitate evidence generation for PFA.

Conclusions:

• Implementing and evaluating PFA in high-risk organizational settings is a practical starting point for evidence building.
• The proposed Phased PFA model and evaluation method can guide future research.
• This work seeks to strengthen the evidence base for effective PFA delivery in disaster and high-risk contexts.