Post-Incident Stress Management (PISM) and Psychological First Aid Course
Specialists in Psychological Health at Work
Our accredited Post Incident Stress Debrief and Psychological First Aid Course equips learners with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage post-incident stress effectively.
We delve into the intricate symptoms associated with stress and explore why people experience and cope with it differently.
Through this comprehensive program, participants will not only learn to recognise and manage their own stress but also develop the ability to provide valuable support to their colleagues.
Our course encompasses vital topics such as coping mechanisms, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, the cognitive triad, and negative thinking. Join us on this transformative journey to better understand and navigate the complexities of post-incident stress and its impact on our daily lives.
By recognising the importance of addressing critical incidents and their aftermath in a post-pandemic world, organisations can create a healthier, more supportive work environment, ensuring the well-being of their employees and the long-term success of the organisation.
What is Post-Incident Stress Management (PISM)?
Post-incident stress management (PISM) refers to a range of strategies, interventions, and support services designed to help individuals cope with and recover from the psychological and emotional effects of a traumatic incident.
It focuses on providing immediate and ongoing assistance to individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, such as natural disasters, accidents, violence, or other critical incidents.
The primary goal of post-incident stress management is to mitigate the negative impact of traumatic events and facilitate the psychological healing process. It aims to address the emotional, cognitive, and physical symptoms that may arise following a traumatic incident, such as anxiety, depression, nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, sleep disturbances, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.
Post-Incident Stress Management (PISM) comprises a range of crisis intervention services that include:
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Pre-Crisis Management stress prevention and management both at an individual and organisational level
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Intra-Crisis Management individual crisis counselling is often referred to as Psychological First Aid
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Post-Crisis Management group debriefing of a homogenous group, i.e., people who have been through the same critical incident together, and post-incident referral for 1-1 counselling for those still suffering from symptoms following a critical incident
Is Post-Incident Stress Management PISM really relevant to my organisation?
To cultivate a healthy work ethos and environment, all organisations should establish robust systems to effectively handle critical incidents and address the resulting distress and disorder that may arise during and after such events.
The course is intended for two situations:
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Where a major incident has occurred at work, e.g., multiple deaths, an assault, a suicide of a patient or a colleague, hostage-taking of a patient or colleagues, murder, witnessing or being involved in terrible accidents, etc.
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Where a major incident has occurred in the locality, “beyond the scope of business-as-usual operations” e.g., an infectious disease outbreak, an explosion at work, a terrorist act, a power outage, a natural disaster such as a flood, aeroplane crash, damaged building, rising floodwater.
Ideal for
The course is designed for: -
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Health Care Professionals - Doctors, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, First Responders – Paramedics, Fire Fighters, Police, etc.
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Mental Health Professionals - Social workers, Psychologists, Therapists, Welfare Officers, Wellness/Wellbeing Managers, EAP personnel, etc.
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Workplace Professionals Managers, Human Resource Personnel, Occupational Health & Safety Personnel, Educators, etc.
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Religious Personnel Chaplains, Pastoral Counsellors, Ministers, etc.
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Organisations that desire to promote and ensure a fundamental and standardised knowledge base among their personnel who respond to crisis and trauma,
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Any other professionals involved in the care of individuals and groups following traumatic incidents.
Post Incident Stress Debrief and Psychological First Aid Course
Course objectives
Our Post Incident Stress Debrief and Psychological First Aid Course supports the development of a range of knowledge skills, allowing learners to offer aid in critical incidents and then to facilitate the debriefing of those that may be stressed from involvement with traumatic events.
Acute stress is a body’s normal reaction to an abnormal event. The normalisation of the traumatised person(s) experience and validation of their experiences and responses is a critical goal of this programme, as well as identifying those that require referral for further assistance.
The course examines the complex symptoms a person can experience when stressed and delve into the underlying factors behind the varied experiences and coping mechanisms people employ in response to stress.
Learners will be able to recognise and manage their own stress through a range of validated techniques that build both resilience and improve coping. This programme includes content on:
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understanding stress and an individual’s response to stressful situations
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coping with stress
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stress at work
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emotional intelligence
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mindfulness
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stress debriefing
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communication skills
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therapeutic group work skills,
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the role of the cognitive triad and negative thinking
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psychological first aid
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effective reporting
Certification/Accreditation
This course is accredited by Highfield Qualifications.
