Psychological first aid training after Japan's triple disaster: changes in perceived self competency

Area of Science:

• Disaster Mental Health
• Psychological First Aid (PFA)
• International Collaboration

Background:

• The 2011 Japan triple disaster impacted numerous individuals requiring mental health support.
• Welfare and volunteer organizations play a crucial role in assisting disaster survivors.
• Standardized Psychological First Aid (PFA) training needed localization for effective delivery in Japan.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement localized Psychological First Aid (PFA) training for Japanese welfare and volunteer organizations.
• To assess the impact of localized PFA training on participants' perceived competency.
• To evaluate the collaborative process between International Medical Corps and TELL.

Main Methods:

• Collaborative development of a localized Psychological First Aid (PFA) training curriculum.
• Implementation of the training program for welfare and volunteer organizations in Japan.
• Evaluation of participant competency and interaction skills post-training.

Main Results:

• Participants reported significantly increased perceived competency in applying PFA principles.
• Trained individuals felt more confident in safely interacting with disaster-affected populations.
• The collaborative model demonstrated effectiveness in training delivery and evaluation.

Conclusions:

• Localized Psychological First Aid (PFA) training enhances helper confidence and skills in disaster contexts.
• International and local non-profit collaboration is effective for developing and delivering specialized training.
• This model has the potential to inform and improve PFA initiatives in other disaster-affected regions worldwide.