Critical Incident Stress Debriefing

Following a threat or an act of violence in the workplace, employees, witnesses and their families often suffer from stress-related ailments such as insomnia, depression, anger, headaches and ulcers. These conditions translate into higher rates of absenteeism, loss of productivity and higher rates of turnover for the employer. Much of this suffering and economic loss can be reduced if the affected individuals receive debriefings from experienced counselors 24 to 72 hours after the traumatic incident.

The purpose of such a debriefing is to provide employees and others affected by the event with the opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings about what happened and how it was handled. It also gives the debriefing team the chance to educate employees about the symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and to identify individuals who might need further counseling.