Through easy-to-understand scenarios, this free online course details what psychological first aid (PFA) is and is not, how to provide it responsibly, who can provide it, when and where it should be provided, and when someone should be referred for more specialized care. As it walks the learner through the four main principles of PFA—Prepare, Look, Listen and Link—it also spells out the importance of self-care for first responders and others who are helping people in stressful situations.

This online course, created with the support of FedEx, was developed by International Medical Corps. It is based on the guide for field workers created by the World Health Organization, the War Trauma Foundation, and World Vision International, and covers how to provide psychological first aid to people affected by conflict, disaster, or disease.