What is Critical Incident Stress Management?

CISM is a comprehensive, integrative, multi component crisis intervention system. CISM is considered comprehensive because it consists of multiple crisis intervention components, which functionally span the entire temporal spectrum of a crisis. CISM interventions range from the pre-crisis phase through the acute crisis phase, and into the post-crisis phase. CISM is also considered comprehensive in that it consist of interventions which may be applied to individuals, small functional groups, large groups, families, organizations, and even communities. The 7 core components of CISM are as follows:

1. Pre-Crisis Preparation- This includes stress management education, stress resistance, and crisis mitigation training for both individuals and organizations.
2. Disaster or large-scale incident, as well as school and community support programs including demobilization, informational briefings, "town meetings" and staff advisement.
3. Defusing- this is a 3-phase, structured small group discussion provided within hours of a crisis for purposes of assessment, triaging, and acute symptom mitigation.
4. Critical Incident Stress Debriefing(CISD)- this is a 7-phase, structured group discussion, usually provided 1 to 10 days post crisis, and designed to mitigate acute symptoms, assess the need for follow-up, and if possible provide a sense of post-crisis psychological closure.
5. One-on-One Crisis intervention/counseling or psychological supportthroughout the full range of the crisis spectrum.
6. Family crisis intervention,as well as, organizational consultation.
7. Follow-up and referralmechanisms for assessment and treatment, if necessary

Helpful Links

• Learn about CISM
• International Critical Incident Stress Foundation