This document provides an overview of Psychological First Aid (PFA) and discusses validating feelings in response to stressful events like disasters or the COVID-19 pandemic. It outlines common reactions students may experience, such as anxiety, grief, changes in relationships, and risk-taking behaviors. The document also recommends actions that can help such as talking with others, maintaining routines, relaxation techniques, journaling, counseling, and prayer. The overall aim is to help people process their experiences and feelings in a healthy way by recognizing that all reactions are normal.

1. Psychological First
Aid (PFA)

2. Module I on PFA: Validating and
Normalizing Feelings

3. Objectives
By the end of the session, you should be able to;
 Identify feelings/ reactions related to the
pandemic/any form of disaster
 Accept that all feelings and reactions are normal
and valid.

4. Introduction
 How are you feeling today? We are having this
orientation and I want us to talk about your
experiences during the months of lockdown due
to the pandemic. I am sure you are eager to
participate because there are many things to talk
about.

5.  You will be doing some activities, which aims to
help you feel better as you are provided with
ways to react to all the disruptions caused by the
pandemic or the disaster. After you finish
answering some questions, you will need to share
your answers and I will give feedbacks. Let’s
begin

6.  I want you to get a piece of paper, you are going
to write a letter to a dear friend. Write to a
friend about the following.
During the lockdown, what were the 5 routines or
reactions you did at home? Ex. “I slept all the
time”
At the back of your letter write to a friend about
your feelings towards your reactions or routines
Ex. “I felt bored”

7. Common Reactions of Students to
Stressful Events
 Feel a strong responsibility to the family
 Feel anxious brought about by uncertainty of the future
 Feel intense or prolonged grief for not being able to wake
 May become self-absorbed and feel self pity
 May experience changes in their relationships with other people.
 May also start taking risks, engage in self-destructive behaviour, have
avoidant behaviour, and become aggressive
 May experience major shifts in their view of the world accompanied by a
sense of hopelessness about the present and the future.
 May become defiant of authorities and parents while they start relying on
peers for socializing through social media
 May feel guilty and anxious having been separated from their loved ones due
to lockdown

8. What Helps?
 Talking to another person for support
or spending time with others

9. Engaging in positive
distracting activities

10. Getting adequate rest and
eating healthy meals

11. Trying to maintain a
normal schedule

12. Taking breaks

13. Used relaxation
methods
Breathing exercise
Meditation
Calming self-talk
music

14. Keeping a
journal

15. Seek
Counsel

16. Pray

17. “It’s okey
Not to be Okey”

18. Thank you for listening