Psychological first aid

Psychological first aid provides the knowledge and skills to understand reactions to crises, and empowers people to help others and apply the same skills to their own life.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Red Cross advise that people are more likely to be able to psychologically cope with and recover from ongoing crisis situations like COVID-19 if they can:

  • feel safe, connected to others, calm and hopeful;
  • have access to social, physical and emotional support; 
  • help themselves, as individuals and communities.

To support staff, Health and Social Care, in collaboration with the Red Cross and NHS Education Scotland, has made available a short e-learning module on psychological first aid. Learning psychological first aid skills and understanding reactions to crises empowers people to help others and apply the same skills to their own life. The resources and e-learning webinar will assist individuals and teams to help people by: 

  • addressing basic needs and concerns, and providing practical support;
  • connecting them to information, services and social support;
  • offering comfort and helping them to feel calm;
  • reducing distress and fostering adaptive coping;
  • protecting them from further harm.

Access psychological first aid.

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