Critical Incident Debriefs

Critical Incident Debriefing (CID), or Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD), is a structured process used to help individuals and groups process the psychological impact of a traumatic event. It's a facilitated, group-based intervention designed to minimize the development of long-term psychological distress after a critical incident.

Key aspects of CID:

• Purpose:

  To provide immediate support, normalize reactions, and facilitate recovery from the emotional and psychological impact of a critical incident.

• Timing:

  Typically conducted soon after the event, ideally within 24-72 hours.

• Structure:

  Follows a specific, multi-stage process (often seven phases) to ensure a safe and supportive environment for sharing experiences.

• Participants:

  Usually involves a facilitator (often a trained professional or peer support member) and a group of individuals who experienced the critical incident.

• Focus:

  The process emphasizes sharing facts, thoughts, and feelings related to the incident, normalizing reactions, and providing information about available resources.

• Outcomes:

  Aims to reduce the likelihood of developing post-traumatic stress symptoms, depression, or anxiety, and to promote healthy coping mechanisms.

CID can help individuals cope with the immediate stress of a traumatic event. it can also facilitate the processing of people's emotions and the experiences related to the incident. CIS can also help individuals to understand that their reactions are normal and expected after a traumatic event. Allows facilitators to identify those who may need more specialized mental health care. Can build individual and group resilience to future stressful situations. Call us on 07726456810