Psychological First Aid: A Tool for Mitigating Conflict in the Middle East

Abstract

Following traumatic events, some individuals experience negative mental health impacts, such as PTSD, anxiety disorder, and/or major depression. However, others may experience posttraumatic growth and feel a positive reaction that brings strength. The field of disaster mental health focuses on methods to intervene and support both individuals and communities as they experience and cope with situations that can be extremely painful and disruptive to their lives. The goal is to help the individuals and communities recover from disaster; recovery comes with an understanding of reactions to disaster as well as an understanding of when and how to intervene. Reactions to disaster include those that are categorized as normal, extreme, and prolonged or chronic. This project, Mitigating Conflict Via Early Mental Health Interventions: Community-Based Psychological First Aid Training for Palestinians and Israelis, was intended to address three of the primary goals of USAID assistance for foreign countries: (1) furthering education, (2) assisting societies with preventing and recovering from conflicts, and (3) providing humanitarian assistance in the wake of natural and man-made disasters using psychological first aid as the vehicle to promote communication and cooperation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)