Listen protect connect for traumatized schoolchildren: a pilot study of psychological first aid

Abstract

BackgroundListen Protect Connect (LPC), a school-based program of Psychological First Aid delivered by non-mental health professionals, is intended to support trauma-exposed children. Our objective was to implement LPC in a school setting and assess the effectiveness of LPC on improving psychosocial outcomes associated with trauma.MethodsA pilot quasi-experiment was conducted with middle school children self-identified or referred to the school nurse as potentially exposed to stressful life experiences. LPC was provided to students by the school nurse, and questionnaires were administered at baseline, 2-, 4- and 8-weeks to assess life stressors, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, social support, and school connectedness. A total of 71 measurements were collected from 20 children in all. Although a small sample size, multiple measurements allowed for multivariable mixed effects models to analyze changes in the repeated outcomes over time.ResultsStudents who received the intervention had reduced depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms from baseline throughout follow-up period. Total social support also increased significantly from baseline through 8-weeks, and school connectedness increased up to 4-weeks post-intervention.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the potential of LPC as a school-based intervention of Psychological First Aid. Future randomized trials of LPC are needed, however.

A systematic review of school‐based interventions and their outcomes for youth exposed to traumatic events

“…As seen in Table , of the 41 studies, 7 studies examined miscellaneous interventions (Psychodrama Group: Carbonell & Parteleno‐Barehmi, ; Unnamed Intervention: C. M. Chemtob, Nakashima, & Hamada, ; Project SHIFA: Ellis et al, ; Expressive Writing Intervention: Giannotta et al, ; Adolescent Grief and Loss Group: Malone, ; Journey of Hope: Powell & Thompson, ; Listen, Protect, Connect: Ramirez et al, ). Of the seven studies, only Giannotta et al () expressive writing intervention did not find statistically different changes in student outcome scores.…”

Adverse childhood experiences and trauma informed care: the future of health care

“…Although originally developed as a response to disasters, PFA provides a framework that has been applied to other personal adverse experiences such as interpersonal violence and family trauma (57). PFA identifies children and their caregivers immediately after a life stressor and provides information, education, comfort, and support, which results in acceleration of recovery, promotion of mental health, and increased resiliency (58,59). Recently, the World Health Organization published "Psychological first aid: Guide for field workers, " which describes crises ranging from "war to natural disasters, accidents, fires, and interpersonal violence. "…”

“…Adults trained in PFA report increased knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy in applying skills to support youth with histories of trauma (61,62). One study also reported PFA being effective in improving connectedness and stress among youth traumatized by a disaster, bullying, death or illness of a family member, or injury (59). Thus, PFA is an ideal program that may be delivered by all members of a trauma-informed organization, even by those without advanced mental health training.…”

Applications of Psychological First Aid in Disaster and Emergency Situations: Its Relationship with Decision-Making

“…On the other hand, with analytical and deliberate processing, PFA volunteers could express better reflective understandings of the victim by facilitating a "refractory mode" that activates areas of the frontal cortex (Farchi 2014, Ramirez et al 2013) and by providing a deliberate activation and conscious interpretation of the emotional reactions processes and behaviors of discomfort (Hafstad et al 2012); based on the acquisition of scheduled competencies or cognitive domains (McCabe et al 2014). Such conditions allow the victims return to the feeling of security under a framework of psycho educational preventive approach to PTSD.…”