What are the best ways to provide counseling and support after a critical incident?

1. Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD): ?Conduct a CISD session with those involved in the critical incident. This structured group discussion allows individuals to share their experiences, thoughts, and feelings in a supportive environment. 2. Individual Counseling: ?Offer one-on-one counseling sessions for those who may prefer or benefit from private discussions. ?Individual counseling allows for a more personalized and focused approach to addressing specific needs. 3. Normalize Reactions: ?Help individuals understand that their emotional reactions are normal responses to an abnormal situation. Normalize the range of emotions they may be experiencing, such as fear, anxiety, guilt, or sadness.

From the perspective of someone who has received such counselling, I believe the effective method in response to a critical incident is about debriefing what happened step by step, understanding that whatever the outcome was the best effort possible was applied. Avoid trying to relate specifically to the event with other examples; keep to the topic at hand.

CISM, or Critical Incident Stress Management, is a comprehensive and integrated system of interventions crafted by experts in emergency services, mental health, and disaster response. Widely adopted by various organizations and agencies globally, CISM comprises several components applicable before, during, and after a critical incident, tailored to the needs and preferences of affected individuals or groups. This includes pre-incident education and training, on-scene support, demobilization, defusing, debriefing, individual or group crisis counseling, and follow-up and referral.

and…. as an employer, ensure someone follows up with the crews after the debrief if it is a really awful event. It is sometimes so much more than a call to a peer support officer and the one visit - that’s if it even gets that far.

and…. as an employer, ensure someone follows up with the crews after the debrief if it is a really awful event. It is sometimes so much more than a call to a peer support officer and the one visit - that’s if it even gets that far.

CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) is effective in providing counseling and support after a critical incident because of its robust theoretical and empirical foundations. It acknowledges the intricate and dynamic nature of human responses to stress. Guided by principles such as respect for dignity, autonomy, and diversity, flexibility to adapt to changing needs, collaboration between stakeholders and professionals, and reliance on evidence-based methods, CISM stands out. Importantly, it avoids imposing judgment, pressure, or coercion, following a rigid protocol, creating conflict or competition, and relying on unproven or harmful techniques.

Implementing CISM involves individuals who have received adequate training and certification in its components and principles, along with access to necessary resources and supervision. The application of CISM is versatile and can occur in various settings like workplaces, schools, communities, or disaster zones. It can be initiated by individuals recognizing the need for counseling and support after a critical incident, including managers, supervisors, peers, or counselors. Open to participation from survivors, witnesses, responders, or family members, CISM can be tailored to the unique characteristics and circumstances of each critical incident, considering factors such as type, severity, duration, or i