Psychological First Aid: Look Listen Link

Summary

This video explains the three key action principles of Psychological First Aid (PFA): Look, Listen, and Link. It covers practical steps such as gathering information, ensuring safety, recognizing distress reactions, and addressing immediate needs. The Listen principle emphasizes active listening, calming techniques, and asking clarifying questions to help those in distress. The Link principle focuses on connecting individuals to resources, support, and services. It also highlights the importance of self-care for helpers and offers tips for managing stress. The video encourages practicing these principles to support others effectively and maintain personal well-being.

Takeaways

• 😀 The three action principles of psychological first aid (PFA) are Look, Listen, and Link.
• 😀 The first action principle, Look, involves gathering information, ensuring safety, addressing physical injuries, and assessing reactions to distress.
• 😀 Common reactions to distress include physical symptoms like shaking, sweating, and increased heart rate, as well as emotional symptoms like fear and sadness.
• 😀 Severe reactions to distress include disorientation, inability to care for oneself, loss of control over behavior, or threats of harm to oneself or others.
• 😀 Listening in PFA involves active engagement—both verbal (e.g., repeating what was said) and non-verbal (e.g., maintaining eye contact and open body posture).
• 😀 Calming techniques, such as guided breathing exercises, can help someone in distress manage their emotions and regain control.
• 😀 Asking good questions during the Listen phase helps clarify needs and concerns, enabling you to guide the person toward solutions.
• 😀 The Link action involves connecting individuals to useful information, resources, and social support, such as contacting loved ones or accessing services.
• 😀 Preparing psycho-education material in advance helps people understand their reactions and provides coping strategies.
• 😀 Self-care for helpers is essential. Recognizing personal distress, listening to your own needs, and linking to support are key to maintaining well-being.

Q & A

What are the three action principles of Psychological First Aid (PFA)?

The three action principles of Psychological First Aid are Look, Listen, and Link. These principles guide how to respond to individuals in distress.

What does the 'Look' principle involve in Psychological First Aid?

The 'Look' principle involves gathering information about the situation, identifying who needs help, assessing safety and security risks, checking for physical injuries, assessing immediate needs, and recognizing common or severe reactions to distress.

What are some examples of physical reactions to distress?

Examples of physical reactions to distress include shaking, sweating, nausea, stomach problems, difficulty sleeping, increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, and feeling drained of energy.

What behavioral symptoms might someone display when they are distressed?

Behavioral symptoms of distress include withdrawal from others, crying or screaming, laughing inappropriately, difficulty moving, pacing, overeating or not eating, and displaying aggressive behavior or increased substance use.

How can emotional reactions manifest in someone experiencing distress?

Emotional reactions may include shock, fear, anger, sadness, anxiety, mood swings, irritability, or a lack of emotion altogether.

What are some cognitive symptoms of distress?

Cognitive symptoms include poor concentration, confusion, disorganized thoughts, forgetfulness, difficulty making decisions, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts.

What are spiritual symptoms of distress, and how can they manifest?

Spiritual symptoms can include a sense of emptiness, hopelessness, loss of faith, anger towards a higher power, or feeling disconnected from others.

How can you identify when someone's distress requires more specialized help?

Signs that someone may need specialized help include an inability to sleep for several days, confusion or disorientation, inability to care for oneself or family, loss of control over behavior, threats of self-harm or harm to others, and excessive substance use.

What does the 'Listen' principle emphasize in PFA?

The 'Listen' principle emphasizes actively listening with both verbal and non-verbal cues, paying attention to the individual, introducing yourself calmly, and using methods like deep breathing exercises to calm the person in distress.

What does the 'Link' principle in PFA involve?

The 'Link' principle involves helping the person access information, connect with loved ones or social support, tackle practical problems, and guide them to appropriate services, whether informal or formal, for further assistance.