The Metro CISM Team provides a variety of support services to the emergency services community. Below are some of the services we provide.
Why wait for a critical incident to learn about critical incident stress? The Metro CISM team provides pre-incident education to metro-area emergency service agencies at no charge.
-Pre-incident education includes:
-Understanding critical incident stress
-Common signs and symptoms of critical incident stress
-Practical tips for coping with stress
-Basic understanding of the debriefing process.
To schedule a pre-incident awareness class, email Sue Johnston.
On Scene Support: For protracted incidents, critical incident stress management can begin at the scene, through onsite support and demobilization.While on-scene support is not often required, it is available for agencies dealing with large or prolonged incidents. On scene support includes:
-Support to individuals who are showing obvious signs of breakdown. Their level of function is assessed and whenever possible, the individual is kept in service, but given a break and a change of assignment.
-Advise and counsel command staff
-Give support to victims or survivors
Demobilization: Again, this is reserved for large or prolonged incidents. Team members meet briefly with participants at the end of their shift/rotation. Signs and symptoms of a stress reaction and practical tips to manage it are provided, as well as information about an upcoming debriefing.
For Metro-Area agencies requesting On-Site or Demobilization Services, contact
612-347-5710. A coordinator will return your call promptly.
Defusings are conducted shortly after the incident. They may be required when providers are displaying signs of stress reactions immediately after an incident.
Defusings are primarily informational. An update and report on the incident are provided (when possible), and basic information on the signs of stress reactions, practical management tips, and information about an upcoming debriefing are provided.
Defusings are often performed by a Metro Team member not directly involved in the incident (even if they are on the same department).
For Metro-Area agencies requesting a defusing: Contact West MRCC at 612-347-5710. A coordinator will return your call promptly.
The Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) normally takes place 24-72 hours after the incident.
The debriefing team consists of peers (often from the discipline requesting the debriefing, such as police, fire, EMS, dispatch/communications, or ER staff), as well as a mental health professional, specially trained by the Metro CISM team.
The purpose of the debriefing is not a critique of the incident (the Team has no evaluative role), but to provide a format for personnel to discuss the incident as it relates to their thoughts, perceptions, and feelings, in order to reduce stress.
CISDs are completely confidential. No recordings or written notes are kept. The team only records the number of people in attendance and the date of the debriefing. No one who was not involved in the incident is generally permitted to attend the debriefing.
Debriefings have a logical course to allow everyone to have an understanding of the incident, and to clarify some of their perceptions.
For Metro-Area agencies requesting a debriefing, call West MRCC at 612-347-5710. A coordinator will return your call promptly.Sometimes a debriefing isn't necessary. Maybe only one person was effected. Perhaps someone is having trouble with issues off-duty, but they don't feel comfortable seeking professional care yet.
The Metro-CISM Team's members are all trained in peer support. They are from every discipline, and nearly every agency in the metro area.
Metro CISM Team members are available to provide supportive listening, and to offer assistance in developing coping mechanisms. In the even that the situation may require professional assistance, they can provide resources for individuals to seek professional help.
A roster of Team members should be posted at your department. If you cannot find a current roster, contact Executive Director Sue Johnston.