The Need for Psychological First Aid in Catastrophes and Emergencies: A Call to All Medical Personnel
I remember the first time I saw a patient pass away on the ward. The team had done everything possible, yet the patient still died. As soon as we declared the death, we had to move on—prepare paperwork, attend to others. My heart broke. How do we just move on, even though we must? That moment made me realize that while we are trained to save lives, we are far less prepared for the emotional toll of loss, both in our patients and in ourselves.
As medical personnel, we are always at the centre of catastrophes and emergencies. We respond to cries for help, hold the hands of the suffering, and make life-saving decisions under immense pressure. This places us directly in the path of psychological crises. Every year, World Mental Health Day reminds us that mental health is as vital as physical health. This year’s theme, “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies,” highlights a truth we often overlook: wars, epidemics, natural disasters, and accidents do not only strain healthcare systems—they leave invisible wounds on patients, families, and healthcare workers alike.
This is where Psychological First Aid (PFA) becomes essential. PFA is not psychotherapy. It is a simple, evidence-informed approach that provides comfort, stability, and hope in the immediate aftermath of crisis. It emphasizes safety, dignity, and humanity—things every patient and every healthcare worker deserves.
The principles of PFA are often summed up as Look, Listen, Link:
Look: Beyond signs and symptoms, see the person. Recognize your patients as whole human beings, not just medical cases. Extend the same care to yourself and your colleagues—notice exhaustion, fear, or withdrawal, and acknowledge it.
Listen: Create space for people to share without pressure. Listen with patience and empathy, and validate their emotions as normal responses to crisis. For yourself, don’t bottle things in—talk to a trusted friend, write, walk, breathe. Listening with compassion starts with listening to your own needs.
Link: Connect people with what they need—family support, community resources, professional care. For colleagues, that might mean encouraging rest or pointing them to counseling. For yourself, it might mean reaching out for help instead of carrying the weight alone. Linking reminds us that no one should suffer in isolation.
These principles may seem simple, but in the chaos of emergencies, they are often what people remember most. During the Ebola outbreak in West Africa (2014–2016), healthcare workers faced relentless loss as patients died daily, often in isolation. What sustained many families and staff was not just the medical interventions, but the quiet moments of reassurance, presence, and listening offered by trained volunteers using PFA. Similarly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, patients often died away from their families due to isolation protocols. For both patients and healthcare workers, a compassionate voice on the phone, or a colleague checking in, was a lifeline. These small acts embodied the heart of psychological first aid.
As healthcare workers, we must never forget that medicine is not only about treating disease—it is about making people feel loved, seen, and valued. Every patient, regardless of diagnosis, carries invisible burdens. Every colleague, no matter how strong they appear, faces hidden struggles. And we ourselves are not immune.
That is why PFA must become part of our essential toolkit, just like basic life support. If we can learn to look with humanity, listen with compassion, and link with hope, we will not only save lives—we will heal hearts.
The next crisis will come. When it does, let us be ready—not only with stethoscopes and syringes, but with eyes that truly see, ears that truly listen, and hearts that truly connect. And as we mark this year’s World Mental Health Day, may we remember that true access to mental health in catastrophes begins with each of us practicing the simple, human act of psychological first aid.
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