Rapid Implementation of Psychological First Aid Following Sudden Traumatic Bereavement among Adolescents and Young Adults in Senegal: A Descriptive Field Report

Background: Sudden traumatic bereavement can cause substantial emotional distress among adolescents and young adults. Psychological First Aid (PFA) provides early psychosocial support focused on safety, compassionate listening, practical assistance, and social connectedness without requiring forced disclosure. Objective: To describe the rapid implementation of a PFA intervention following sudden traumatic bereavement among young participants during an international youth stay in Senegal, focusing on organization, immediate field observations, and practical lessons learned. Methods: This field report describes an emergency Psychological First Aid (PFA) intervention carried out after the accidental death of a supervisor. The report is based on anonymized field observations, routine clinical notes, and spontaneous feedback shared by participants. Because the priority was to provide immediate psychosocial support, no standardized psychological assessment tools were used. Results: Twenty-four participants took part, including 21 aged 16 - 18 years and three supervisors aged 20 - 25 years. All attended a group PFA session, and 11 (45.8%) received individual supportive interviews. Observed reactions included sadness, crying, emotional distress, guilt-related thoughts, uncertainty about personal reactions, and concerns about separation from the group. Participants spontaneously described psychoeducation and supportive listening as helpful, although these perceptions were not objective measures of effectiveness. Conclusion: This experience shows that Psychological First Aid can be organized rapidly after a sudden traumatic bereavement, even in resource-limited settings. Restoring safety, providing accessible psychoeducation, respecting individual coping styles, and maintaining social connections appeared to be important during the immediate aftermath. Further research should examine feasibility, cultural adaptation, and longer-term outcomes.