Psychological First Aid and Practice Principles in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak Process

• Main Author: Nurhayat KILIÇ BAYAGELDİ
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Galenos Publishing House 2021-04-01
• Series: Bezmiâlem Science
• Subjects: coronavirus; psychological first aid; psychosocial interventions
• Online Access: http://bezmialemscience.org/archives/archive-detail/article-preview/psychological-first-aid-and-practice-principles-in/47231
• ISSN: 2148-2373; 2148-2373

The coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, which has recently become common in the world, caused many people to die. The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 as a pandemic. Pandemic situations disrupt community life by creating collective stress in society. It is known that after the pandemics, there is an increase in the symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress and post-traumatic stress disorder, and the symptoms gain resistance and turn into permanent mental disorders. Psychosocial interventions are recommended using internet technology to prevent the negative consequences of pandemics from turning into permanent mental disorders. At this point, psychological first aid (PFA) is the first and emergency psychosocial support intervention. PFA helps individuals to recover by activating their own coping skills with empathic and pragmatic approaches. PFA can be given using internet technology as physical distance is mandatory during virus outbreaks. In this review study, the principles and practices of PFA that can be applied in the case of COVID-19 epidemic, which has been seen all over the world recently and caused the death of many people. This review article is thought to guide aid providers in epidemic situations and contribute to the development of aid skills.