Development of community psychological first aid guideline in Vietnam

Abstract Mental health is becoming a global priority in public healthcare, particularly in the context of increasing crises and social pressures. However, the significant gap between the need for support and the availability of specialized services has created an urgent demand for simple, community-adaptable intervention models. This study aims to develop and evaluate a community-based Psychological First Aid (PFA) guideline, intended to provide timely, humane, and early psychosocial support to individuals experiencing distressing events. The development process comprised three phases: (1) a review of international literature and contextual adaptation for Vietnam, (2) an interdisciplinary consultation with 11 experts using the Delphi technique, and (3) community feedback through focus group discussions. The AGREE II instrument was applied to ensure scientific rigor, transparency, and practical applicability. The finalized PFA guideline consists of three key components: the “Look – Listen – Link” action principles, a three-phase psychological support framework, and eight core actions implementable by both professionals and laypersons. Findings indicate that the guideline offers high flexibility, scalability, and suitability for low-resource settings. Integration of this tool into public health programs is essential to strengthen early psychological response capacity at the community level.