If someone is experiencing severe distress during PFA, what should you do?

Validating someone’s feelings and encouraging them to breathe is a critical component of providing Psychological First Aid (PFA). When a person is in severe distress, acknowledging their emotions helps establish a connection and shows that you are attentive and empathetic to their experience. This validation can alleviate feelings of isolation and help the individual feel heard and understood, which is essential for emotional support.

Encouraging them to breathe serves a dual purpose: it helps to calm their physiological response to stress and anxiety and can lead to a more manageable emotional state. Techniques like focused breathing can empower the individual to regain some control over their distress, making them more capable of engaging in further conversations and assessments.

In contrast, ignoring their feelings or asking them to leave would likely exacerbate their distress, reinforcing feelings of loneliness or rejection. While referring someone to a hospital may be necessary in certain situations, it's usually appropriate only when there's a clear medical emergency or the person poses a danger to themselves or others. In the context of PFA, the immediate goal is to provide emotional support, which involves validation and grounding techniques.