Trauma in the Workplace:
Training, Consulting and Debriefing
THE PROBLEM
Critical incident stress (CIS) is the physical, cognitive and emotional reaction individuals may experience after a traumatic event. It can occur to anyone. All it takes is exposure to an event that is generally outside the range of their usual human experience, or to an event that one was not psychologically prepared to handle.
When a worker is traumatized by an incident, they experience a set of symptoms that can immediately have a negative affect on their functioning, or affect them hours, days or even years later. A significant number of victims may experience long term difficulties that can ruin one's career or their personal life.
In the general work force, some of the causes of critical incident stress include death or serious injury of a co-worker, verbal or physical threat to self, witnessing a death or gruesome sights and sounds, emotionally charged events. In the emergency services critical incident stress could be caused by death of child, mission or case failure, when the victim is known, incidents with significant media attention and always when triage is required.
Emotional Distress (ED) is the physical, cognitive and emotional reaction individuals may experience after an extremely sad event or series of events. Emotionally Distressing Events (EDE's) are not so much shocking as they are simply emotionally draining. Examples include death of a client after a long illness; too many deaths or tragic cases over a short period of time; terminating life support in sad cases (child or mother with family present); non-witnessed death of a cherished colleague.
Though most professionals are able to function following such incident, one is often left with unresolved sadness, a need for closure, feeling burnt out and exhausted.
CIS and ED are understandable reactions to an exceptional stress or. When managed properly, the negative effects can be greatly reduced. When natural community support (e.g., supportive friends, family, church, community rituals) are not available - as is often the case in organizations - organizations can promote recovery and resilience through proactive action.
Critical incident stress (CIS) is a normal reaction to an abnormal stress or. When managed properly, the negative effect can be greatly minimized.
THE SOLUTION: Psychological-Trauma Management (PTM)
CIS and ED are occupational hazards that can be effectively managed. Effective management of CIS requires three components:
- Pre-incident training
- A mechanism for critical incident demobilization, diffusing and debriefing, and
- A supportive organizational policy on PTM
CIS and ED are significantly affected by two factors:
- The type of incident, and
- The state of vulnerability of the helping professional.
An individual who is already "stressed out" due to marital difficulties, illness, occupational irritation or any other stress factors is automatically more vulnerable to CIS and ED.
Through educational programs on stress in general, and CIS and ED in particular, workers may become motivated to reduce their general life stress (seek marriage counselling, get on a better diet, have it out with a difficult employee) and therefore reduce their vulnerability to CIS and ED.
Secondly, by being informed about CIS and ED, they will be better psychologically prepared for the difficult incidents, not be surprised or as anxious if they do experience symptoms of CIS and ED and be more willing to seek debriefing or counselling services when necessary.
Thirdly, through education, management will be more sensitive to incidents that could result in CIS and ED, make informal contact with workers who were at a bad incident and ensure workers have debriefing services in place for whenever necessary.
Fourthly, by training peer-level staff, colleagues can be more effective in providing support to their work mates through providing emotional first aide immediately after an incident.
Interested in getting training? Check our PTM Course Listing