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:

1.  Targets the response to an event, not the event. 

2. Is an active, short-term, supportive process.

3. 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