Brazzaville, 7 October 2016 - The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, is urging countries in the African Region to train more people to be able to perform psychological first aid during emergencies. Her message comes as a critical call on the occasion of the World Mental Health Day commemorated under the theme: “Psychological First AID.”

Psychological First Aid (PFA) is aimed at reducing the initial distress caused by traumatic events such as war, natural disasters, accidents, fires, interpersonal violence and loss of loved ones, and to foster short-and long-term adaptive functioning and coping. It covers both psychological and social support and involves humane, supportive and practical help to fellow human beings who have suffered a serious crisis event.

“In the African Region, due to poor investment and limited professionals in the area of mental health, PFA is not always available when a crisis arises. National disaster management authorities are encouraged to consider having teams ready who could travel to disaster-affected regions to orient local first responders in psychological first aid when disaster strikes,” said Dr Moeti.

Since 2011, WHO has been conducting training courses in PFA and has developed a manual to guide countries as part of efforts to strengthen preparedness and responses to humanitarian crisis. This manual is a useful tool to build capacity in countries. The Regional Director also called for improved access to mental health and social services for those who need more than psychological first aid.

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For more information, please contact:

Technical contact:
 
Dr Nkomo Sebastiana, Regional Adviser for mental health, Tel.: +47 241 39722,
Email: nkomos [at] who.int 
 
Media contact

Collins Boakye-Agyemang, Regional Communication Adviser, Tel.: + 242 06 520 6565,  Email: boakyeagyemangc [at] who.int
 
Fabienne Aboua, Communication Officer, Tel.: +242 056627568, Email: abouaf [at] who.int