Critical Incident Stress Management Team
Case Studies
Research indicates that structured peer support and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) programs significantly reduce post-incident distress and improve coping mechanisms among first responders and dispatchers.
These teams foster a culture of resilience, helping participants feel supported, lowering stigma around mental-health help-seeking, and enabling quicker return to duty readiness.
Individual Peer Support
One on one for individuals that need support after an incident. Designed to mitigate stressors and allow the individual to discuss factors they may not wish to speak about in a group setting. This process can be done at any time for any reason.
Defusing
A small group process provided shortly after a traumatic event and/or before a group leaves the workplace. A Defusing offers an opportunity to begin exploration of the individual reactions to an event and should take place within 8 hours of the incident. It is an opportunity to provide immediate information on healthy coping
CISD (Debrief)
A proactive intervention involving a group meeting or discussion about a particularly distressing critical incident. Based on core principles of crisis intervention, the CISD is designed to mitigate the impact of a critical incident and to assist the persons in recovery from the stress associated with the event.
The CISD is facilitated by a specially trained team which includes professional and peer support personnel. Ideally it is conducted between 24 and 72 hours after the incident, but may be held later under exceptional circumstances.
When To Contact CISM
The Maine NENA CISM team provides confidential, non-judgmental, peer-to-peer support in the wake of stressful events to promote recovery following a difficult experience. Our team is dedicated to helping our peers with critical incidents, grief after an employee/First Responder death, emotional aftermath of a natural disaster or personal life stressors.
Our CISM Team may be activated after any event which has a stressful impact, enough to overwhelm the effective coping skills of either an individual or group. Critical incidents are typically sudden, powerful events which are outside the range of ordinary human experiences.
How To Reach Us
Should a department or member of a department wish for a critical incident stress debriefing, or identify someone in need of services we can be contacted through our Cumberland County RCC
22 High St. Windham, Maine 04062
207-893-2810 x2