The Effectiveness of Psychological First Aid as a Disaster Intervention Tool: Research Analysis of Peer-Reviewed Literature From 1990-2010

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 247-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey H. Fox ◽  
Frederick M. Burkle ◽  
Judith Bass ◽  
Francesco A. Pia ◽  
Jonathan L. Epstein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Expert Opinion ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Advisory Council ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Mental Health Training ◽  
Health Training ◽  
Psychological First Aid ◽  
Professional Mental Health

ABSTRACTObjective: The Advisory Council of the American Red Cross Disaster Services requested that an independent study determine whether first-aid providers without professional mental health training, when confronted with people who have experienced a traumatic event, offer a “safe, effective and feasible intervention.”Methods: Standard databases were searched by an expert panel from 1990 to September 2010 using the keyword phrase “psychological first aid.” Documents were included if the process was referred to as care provided to victims, first responders, or volunteers and excluded if it was not associated with a disaster or mass casualty event, or was used after individual nondisaster traumas such as rape and murder. This search yielded 58 citations.Results: It was determined that adequate scientific evidence for psychological first aid is lacking but widely supported by expert opinion and rational conjecture. No controlled studies were found. There is insufficient evidence supporting a treatment standard or a treatment guideline.Conclusion: Sufficient evidence for psychological first aid is widely supported by available objective observations and expert opinion and best fits the category of “evidence informed” but without proof of effectiveness. An intervention provided by volunteers without professional mental health training for people who have experienced a traumatic event offers an acceptable option. Further outcome research is recommended.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2012;6:247–252)

First responders and psychological first aid

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan Pekevski, PhD
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Adaptive Functioning ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
First Responders ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Psychological First Aid ◽  
And Coping

Emergencies and disasters are common and occur on a daily basis. Although most survivors will not experience any long-term negative mental health effects, some will. First responders tend to have first contact with the survivors and, therefore, are in a position to provide needed mental health assistance to survivors. Psychological first aid (PFA) is an evidence-informed approach to providing support to survivors following a serious crisis event, and it aims to reduce the initial distress of the traumatic event and to promote adaptive functioning and coping. PFA has gained a great deal of attention lately, likely due to the fact that it is easy to provide. This article discusses the potential negative effects of emergencies and disasters on mental health, provides a description of PFA and discusses its application, and provides an overview of the research base of PFA and a discussion on the need for future research.

scholarly journals Delivering and implementing child and adolescent mental health training for mental health and allied professionals: a systematic review and qualitative meta-aggregation

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Banwell ◽  
Neil Humphrey ◽  
Pamela Qualter
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Synthesis Method ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Youth Workers ◽  
Mental Health Training ◽  
Health Training ◽  
Starting Point

Abstract Background The increasing prevalence of mental health difficulties among children and young people (CYP) suggests that early intervention is vital. A comprehensive system of care and support requires the involvement of mental health professionals, including psychologists and psychiatrists, and allied professionals, including teachers, police, and youth workers. A critical starting point is the provision of effective training, in order that these professionals can better support the mental health needs of the CYP that they encounter. Objectives Given the primacy of training in the CYP mental health support system, understanding the factors that maximise potential gains and facilitate uptake is pertinent. The current review therefore located and explored qualitative research evidence, to identify the barriers and facilitators underpinning successful delivery and implementation of training focussed on the mental health of CYP, for both mental health and allied professionals. Methods A systematic review and qualitative meta-aggregation were conducted. Systematic searches were carried out using ASSIA, EMBASE, MEDLINE, NICE Evidence, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases, for papers published between 2000 and 2020. Twelve thousand four hundred forty-eight records were identified, of which 39 were eligible for review. The records were appraised for quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research, and synthesised using the qualitative meta-aggregation method. Results One hundred eighty-two raw findings were extracted from the 39 papers, which were condensed into 47 sub-categories, 19 categories, and finally 5 synthesis statements. These synthesis statements reflected the barriers and facilitators influencing the training delivery process (“support”; “content, design, and planning”), and the implementation of training into the workplace (“context”; “perceived value”; “organisational factors”). Conclusions The synthesis statements and underlying categories provide practical recommendations for those designing, delivering, or implementing CYP mental health training. Recommendations ranged from facilitating peer support during training, to the idea that training will be better implemented when perceived need is high. The review provides a robust evidence-based foundation to “common-sense” principles, drawing them into a coherent and organised framework using a synthesis method grounded in pragmatism. Protocol registration number PROSPERO reference ID: CRD42020162876.

Western mental health training for Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners

2012 ◽  
Vol 126 (6) ◽  
pp. 440-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. P. Lam ◽  
K. Y. Mak ◽  
D. Goldberg ◽  
K. F. Lam ◽  
K. S. Sun
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Mental Health Training ◽  
Health Training
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