<P> Psychological first aid (PFA) is a technique designed to reduce the occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder . It was developed by the National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (NC - PTSD), a section of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, in 2006 . It has been spread by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), the American Psychological Association (APA) and many others . It was developed in a two - day intensive collaboration, involving more than 25 disaster mental health researchers, an online survey of the first cohort that used PFA and repeated reviews of the draft . </P> <P> According to the NC - PTSD, psychological first aid is an evidence - informed modular approach for assisting people in the immediate aftermath of disaster and terrorism to reduce initial distress and to foster short and long - term adaptive functioning . It was used by non-mental health experts, such as responders and volunteers . Other characteristics include non-intrusive pragmatic care and assessing needs . PFA does not necessarily involve discussion of the traumatic event . </P> <Ul> <Li> Protecting from further harm </Li> <Li> Opportunity to talk without pressure </Li> <Li> Active listening </Li> <Li> Compassion </Li> <Li> Addressing and acknowledging concerns </Li> <Li> Discussing coping strategies </Li> <Li> Social support </Li> <Li> Offer to return to talk </Li> <Li> Referral </Li> </Ul>

The first course in psychological first aid was developed in what year