Critical Incident Stress Management

2020 ◽  
pp. 103-128
Author(s):  
Jeffrey T. Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Stress Management ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Crisis Intervention ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Critical Incident Stress Management ◽  
Critical Incident Stress ◽  
History Of ◽  
Intervention Services ◽  
Crisis Intervention Services

This chapter provides a clear overview of a peer support program for first responders. The field of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) was specifically developed to prepare emergency services personnel to psychologically manage significant traumatic events and to recover from the impact of psychological trauma. CISM services are based in the theoretical foundations of crisis intervention and CISM uses the lessons learned from the 150-year history of worldwide crisis intervention services. This chapter presents a history of crisis intervention that helps the reader to understand the core principles of crisis support. It then focuses on the numerous techniques that are incorporated into the Critical Incident Stress Management field. It summarizes key peer support procedures and practices. The chapter also describes the resiliency and the “AS IF” models that aid in the application of crisis intervention services. The chapter concludes with a summary of the evidence that supports CISM services.

Disaster mental health: A critical incident stress management program (CISM) to mitigate compassion fatigue

2009 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Norma S.C. Jones, DSW ◽  
Kamilah Majied, PhD
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Stress Management ◽  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Critical Incident Stress Management ◽  
Critical Incident Stress ◽  
Disaster Workers ◽  
Stress Management Program

This article presents a critical incident stress management program (CISMP) that is designed to anticipate and mitigate the emotional impact of external and internal critical incidents upon individuals and groups who deliver disaster recovery services. This comprehensive program provides for immediate and sustained responses to assist disaster workers in effectively minimizing the emotional detriment of stressful incidents, resulting from interactions with disaster victims. Disaster workers have the potential to experience compassion fatigue as they listen to the disaster survivors’ stories of pain and losses, and work long work hours over extended work periods. The program is a structured, peer-driven, clinician-guided, and supported process designed to provide interventions to address disaster-related mental health issues. Emphasis is placed on individual peer support for immediate action, and specialized individual and group support, assessment, and referral is provided by a stress management clinician. Peer partners participate in a training program, which includes: (1) an overview of stress assessment and management; (2) critical/intervention orientation; (3) identification and utilization of peer support techniques; (4) event preplanning, event briefings, defusings, and debriefings; (5) protocol for responding to an incident; and (6) basic information on workplace violence.

scholarly journals An Exploration of the Experience of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing on Firefighters Within a Region of the New Zealand Fire Service

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Julie Mary Maher
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Stress Management ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
Fire Service ◽  
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing ◽  
Critical Incident Stress Management ◽  
Critical Incident Stress ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Stress Debriefing

<p>This study originates from my practice experience working for the New Zealand Fire Service back in the late 1980's and early 1990's as an Occupational Health Nurse where I piloted a Critical Incident Stress Peer Support programme in the No.4 Region. My interest in the area began after attending a seminar on Critical Incident Stress Debriefing based on Mitchell's model of debriefing (1983). I had begun to recognise in my practice what I believed to be work-related stress but was a little uncertain about where this stress originated. After attending the seminar I began to understand that some of this stress was related to Critical Incident Stress (CIS) from firefighters exposure to critical incidents.  This study explores four firefighters experience of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) within a Region of the New Zealand Fire Service. It explores the application of CISD as one component of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), and the Nurse Researcher's philosophy of Clinical Nurse practice in relation to the application of CISD. The knowledge gained from the analysis of the data has the potential to influence professionals understanding of their experience and affect future practice and that of others working in the field of CISM.  The aim of the study was to gain a greater indepth understanding of firefighters experience specifically in relation to their participation in a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) following their exposure to a critical incident. Much of the literature that supported CISD appeared to offer a rather superficial understanding of the firefighters experience in relation to CISD. I chose to use narratives as the methodology, utilising four individual case studies as a method of social inquiry in order to explore the experience of CISD. The narratives were able to creatively capture the complexity and the dynamic practice of CISD.  An overall pattern of the formalised process was uncovered through the participants' narratives. Eight dominant themes were highlighted from the narratives which included safe environment; ventilating the stress reaction; similar feelings; getting the whole picture; peer support; bonding and resolution. While these themes were common to all the participants, each participant had a particular theme/s which was unique to their experience.  As a Nurse Researcher with dual practice interests in the area of nursing education and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), I am in a position to inform practice and service development. It is my belief that the knowledge gained from this study has the potential to be transferred to others working in the field of CISM. The study results are timely, practical and informative at a time of major change in the New Zealand Fire Service.</p>

scholarly journals An Exploration of the Experience of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing on Firefighters Within a Region of the New Zealand Fire Service

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Julie Mary Maher
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Stress Management ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
Fire Service ◽  
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing ◽  
Critical Incident Stress Management ◽  
Critical Incident Stress ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Stress Debriefing

<p>This study originates from my practice experience working for the New Zealand Fire Service back in the late 1980's and early 1990's as an Occupational Health Nurse where I piloted a Critical Incident Stress Peer Support programme in the No.4 Region. My interest in the area began after attending a seminar on Critical Incident Stress Debriefing based on Mitchell's model of debriefing (1983). I had begun to recognise in my practice what I believed to be work-related stress but was a little uncertain about where this stress originated. After attending the seminar I began to understand that some of this stress was related to Critical Incident Stress (CIS) from firefighters exposure to critical incidents.  This study explores four firefighters experience of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) within a Region of the New Zealand Fire Service. It explores the application of CISD as one component of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), and the Nurse Researcher's philosophy of Clinical Nurse practice in relation to the application of CISD. The knowledge gained from the analysis of the data has the potential to influence professionals understanding of their experience and affect future practice and that of others working in the field of CISM.  The aim of the study was to gain a greater indepth understanding of firefighters experience specifically in relation to their participation in a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) following their exposure to a critical incident. Much of the literature that supported CISD appeared to offer a rather superficial understanding of the firefighters experience in relation to CISD. I chose to use narratives as the methodology, utilising four individual case studies as a method of social inquiry in order to explore the experience of CISD. The narratives were able to creatively capture the complexity and the dynamic practice of CISD.  An overall pattern of the formalised process was uncovered through the participants' narratives. Eight dominant themes were highlighted from the narratives which included safe environment; ventilating the stress reaction; similar feelings; getting the whole picture; peer support; bonding and resolution. While these themes were common to all the participants, each participant had a particular theme/s which was unique to their experience.  As a Nurse Researcher with dual practice interests in the area of nursing education and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), I am in a position to inform practice and service development. It is my belief that the knowledge gained from this study has the potential to be transferred to others working in the field of CISM. The study results are timely, practical and informative at a time of major change in the New Zealand Fire Service.</p>

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