PFA is a crisis response intervention technique that facilitates recovery and reduces trauma-related stress after a crisis hits. Learn more on PFA and how you can be better prepared to aid your colleagues and employees when a crisis hits.
Overview of PFA
In this introduction to PFA, you learn to understand that the emotions we feel during a crisis are normal.
You also learn how to help others by following these action principles:
PFA at the workplace
You can use PFA at your workplace too.
Learn what you can do if you see your colleague:
- Crying
- Shouting or being violent
Avoid using phrases that people can misunderstand
These commonly used phrases may not help someone who is suffering:
- Don’t cry
- I understand
- Cheer up
- Think of the positive side
- Calm down
- It’s okay
- It’s not that bad
- You must get a hold of yourself
Common questions about PFA
What should I do if the person suffering does not have anybody to call or rejects external help?Show
You can try other support systems:
- Within the organisation, it can be:
- Speaking to someone from HR or with their boss
- In-house counsellors or psychologists
- Externally, it can be:
- Family doctor
- Neighbour
- Social worker
When the person refuses any help, you can provide them with help hotlines so that they could call in their own time.
Yes, anyone can be trained in PFA.
You have to be capable of taking care of yourself before you can be deployed to help others.