Psychological First Aid for Military Personnel in Combat Operations: The Ukrainian Model

Abstract

The aim of this present article is to discuss the Psychological First Aid (PFA) model designed for Ukrainian military personnel suffering from combat stress reactions (CSRs) in the War in Donbas. The PFA model and algorithm for casualties with signs of CSRs provide for simple measures aimed at ensuring the personal safety of the casualty, satisfying basic physiological needs, and stopping the action of combat stressors. The 3-level PFA model provides for the gradual transfer of the casualty to higher-level providers, as needed, where at the first level is his colleague (“peer-to-peer”), at the second, is his commander, at the third is a psychologist. The main activities carried out at all levels of PFA in the event of the occurrence of CSRs are disclosed. For their effective relief, an algorithm was developed that provides a clear relationship between the levels of PFA. Criteria for assessing PFA based on the results of the restoration of impaired mental functions of the casualty are proposed. The PFA model for military personnel suffering from combat stress was tested in practice (2016–2019) in combat operations with illegal armed groups in the East of Ukraine.