CISM Core Components

Education- Education is the central focus of the interventions. Having an organization understand the components of stress and stress management, its impact on people and their respective institution helps to mitigate harmful stress reactions. Having a greater understanding about critical incident stress, prior to an event helps the recovery rate when exposed to a critical incident. Being able to educate and train members of an institution, especially on the management and supervisory level, helps to ensure that the organization as a whole works as a cohesive unit with CISM team members.

Peer Counselors-  Getting the team to the scene and/or the people is one thing. Being able to deliver your services is another. In organizations that are "closed" to outsiders, where a strong sense of camaraderie and brotherhood/sisterhood exist, not being "one of them" gives the team a great disadvantage in reaching those exposed to traumatic incidents. No amount of training breaks this barrier unless they can see you as "one of them" or supported by one of them. Organizations like the military and emergency rescue personnel, who come in contact with critical incidents as the main part of their job, develop a strong connection to each other.  The power of the event, the elevated stress levels, the facing and relying on each other when, injury, death or the perception of death y is all around, and the commonality of that experience, create intense bonds unique only to the workers. It is this unspoken oath of oneness that is believed to be crucial in the survival of the group. Being able to open the door from within becomes paramount.  Training personnel and utilizing them as peers within the emergency and military ranks allowed the intervention services to happen from within, and greater acceptance of the CISM team.

Significant Other Support-  Coming home to an unsupportive environment will complicate the recovery process. Significant others are also affected by the critical incident and can be forgotten to the detriment of the entire family.  Spouse, parents, and children all need supportive assistance and education so that the messages are consistent and the environment promotes healing.

CISM Team-  A trained team to provide the right services at the right time is a prerequisite to the prevention and mitigation of traumatic stress reaction and the recovery of those who have been traumatized (Mitchell, Everly 1995).  Teams consist of a partnership between mental health professionals, clergy and peer counselors. 

Professional Referral System-  As a CISM team member providing an intervention to an organization affected by a critical incident, much is being done on setting the affected on a course of recovery. During this process people will recover at different rates and may be affected differently. Some will generally move through the process with minimal symptoms and able to integrate the event into their lives. For others it may take more time, the symptoms may be more severe and still others may have personal circumstances, illness or pre-existing issues that the critical incident exacerbates.  As a CISM team member, spotting one who may need additional resources, guidance, or medical intervention is a key responsibility.  Having a professional referral list and assisting in the transfer of care will further ensure appropriate care is received.  Remember, the fact that a referral is needed or recommended is not a negative reflection of their competency, but again, a normal reaction to an abnormal event. Care must be taken to not stigmatize the victim during this process.

Community Outreach- Interventions within the community have become more specialized and called for in the past few decades.  Agencies like the Red Cross and National Organization for Victims Assistance (NOVA) have been meeting the community's need. One trained in CISM should be ready to respond to the call in the community to assist in their recovery.

Research and Development- While CISM has had tremendous growth in the past 50 years, research  needs to continue to ensure its effectiveness and that the very best of services are maintained.  With its popularity, there are also critics, poorly trained professionals and adaptation of the model.  While the growth is necessary, commitment to the cause must follow.

As you review these core components, it should become clear to you as an EAP or workplace interventionist, that this model does not apply to civilians and the workplaces they are employed at. Yet many, in absence of direction, have tried to apply it.