A critical incident (CISM) refers to any event that is traumatic and potentially overwhelming for individuals involved, often leading to significant emotional distress. These incidents can include line-of-duty deaths, suicides, mass casualty events, and other situations involving violence or loss of life. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) programs are designed to provide support and interventions to help individuals cope with the psychological impact of these events.
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Why CISM is essential for employee well-being
The importance of Critical Incident Response in the workplace cannot be overstated. It is Important employees receive the necessary support during crises, helping them cope with immediate stress and trauma. Effective critical debrifing addresses physical safety and emphasizes psychological safety. Providing timely and appropriate support can prevent long-term psychological effects and maintain workplace productivity, morale, and overall well-being.
Employers who implement robust CIR plans demonstrate a commitment to their employees' well-being. This proactive approach fosters a supportive work environment and helps build resilience among employees, ensuring they feel valued and cared for during challenging times.
The Employer’s role in Critical Incident Response
HR leaders play a crucial role in CIR by taking immediate and proactive actions to support their employees before, during, and after a crisis. It’s important to regularly review and update CIR strategies to ensure they align with potential crises specific to your workplace. Timely intervention is important usually within 24 to 72 hours
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7 Steps of a Critical Incident Response
Creating a safe space
Employees need to feel heard and understood after a traumatic event. Create a safe space where employees feel comfortable expressing their concerns and emotions.
1. Assess the impact of the critical incident on support personnel and survivors
The facilitator assesses as the participants introduce themselves and their initial statements, noting critical information, such as individuals' ages, their involvement in the incident, and their points of view. As the discussion continues, the facilitator can assess each participant more accurately.
2. Identify immediate issues surrounding safety
Through prompts and questioning, the group's facilitator can better understand individuals' perceived sense of safety, which can vanish instantly when sudden tragedy or loss strikes.
3. Use defusing to allow ventilation of thoughts, emotions, and experiences associated with the event and provide validation of possible reactions
Having a safe space to talk about a critical event and its aftermath can be therapeutic, as it helps participants process their emotions and come to terms with their trauma. The facilitator can provide a safe, non-judgmental space for reflecting and processing. During this stage, the facilitator validates each person's unique experience and reactions, assuring participants that their responses to the traumatic event are valid and normal.
4. Predict future events and reactions in the aftermath of the incident
Participants can be further supported by being made aware of possible reactions that may surface as the days, weeks, and months progress— including emotional reactions, physical symptoms, and psychological changes. This knowledge empowers trauma survivors to plan for crisis intervention.
5. Conduct a systematic review of the critical incident and its emotional, cognitive, and physical impact on survivors, and look for maladaptive behaviors or responses to it
When observing participants' moods, word choices, perceptions, and thoughts, the facilitator remains alert to maladaptive behaviors that might inhibit a survivor's ability to recover and cope with physical or psychological reactions. Common maladaptive behaviors include substance misuse, avoidance, withdrawal, and anxiety that turns into anger.
6. Bring closure to the incident and anchor the individual to community resources to initiate the rebuilding process
CISD is not intended to be the survivor's primary source of treatment. Therefore, it can be vital for group participants to learn about other resources available to them. In this stage, the facilitator may discuss future resources and community options.
7. Debrief to assist in the re-entry process into the community or workplace
After completing the CISD process, survivors may be more equipped to regain their sense of safety and well-being, allowing them to return to daily living with greater stability and reduced stress. Critical incident stress management was developed to provide a safe, open, and non-judgmental space for trauma survivors, enabling each participant to fully experience their initial reactions and emotions following a critical incident.
CISD is intended to provide ongoing support to a small group to help those in need with the recovery process and prioritize well-being for a healthy future. Group sessions can reduce trauma impact for those experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, help survivors recover, and identify those participants who require additional support and follow-up services.
