Critical Incident Stress Management

Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is an international standard of care that is the appropriate intervention response for those affected by a traumatic incident.

Crisis Intervention targets the response to an event, not the event. 

Crisis Intervention is an active, short-term, supportive process.

Crisis Intervention is not psychotherapy.  It is educational.

Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team of Jackson & Hillsdale Counties

  • A group of volunteers that respond to traumatic events in the community and minimize the negative effects
  • Specially trained and certified through the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation
  • Able to provide helpful resources to anyone who has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event
  • Services are available at no charge!
  • Donations are accepted to support ongoing training and intervention

What is a Traumatic Event?

  • Involves loss of life or threat of life
  • Produces stress in those who witness or survive it
  • Triggers strong emotions
  • Disrupts one’s ability to function normally

Examples of Possible Potentially Traumatizing Events

  • Automobile accident
  • Sexual assault/abuse
  • Any life threatening experience
  • Robbery
  • Serious physical injury/abuse
  • Perception of serious treat to self or significant other
  • Psychological abuse
  • Severe injury/death of one’s own child
  • Suicide of family member or co-worker
  • Homicide
  • Line of duty injury or death among law enforcement or other first responders
  • Multiple homicides within a community
  • Injury or death to a child
  • Observing any of the individual or community trauma listed above
  • Earthquake
  • Hurricane
  • Fires
  • Flood
  • Large scale environmental pollution
  • Multiple injury/fatality accidents
  • Terrorism
  • Child related traumatic events
  • Homicides in the community
  • High publicity crimes of violence or sex
  • Community wide disasters

If you or your group are experiencing signs and symptoms of Critical Incident Stress also known as Post Traumatic Stress, contact Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team of Jackson & Hillsdale Counties at 269.220.0140.