The core elements of CRISIS are designed to provide a safe and effective support process following a critical incident.
Critical Incident Stress Intervention & Support (CRISIS) is an evolutionary crisis intervention system designed and created by Sean McCallum, a crisis and trauma specialist working within the UK Fire & Rescue Service. Augmenting dynamic integration processes, CRISIS is a highly structured yet person-centred approach, which helps people to successfully process what has happened.
The six core elements of CRISIS provide a fundamental infrastructure within which a facilitator can guide someone through the helping process, providing a high level of fidelity, and a system that requires no analysis, interpretation, judgment, or diagnostics.
CRISIS Core Element – Communication
Communication is the starting point of any helping relationship. Hence, CRISIS facilitators are trained in highly effective and advanced methods of communication to create and maintain a trusting relationship with the individual they’re helping.
CRISIS Core Element – Risk
Critical incidents are hazardous in terms of psychological well-being. Hence, CRISIS facilitators are trained to manage psychological risk by using the critical incident risk assessment, focused on facilitating timely referral and encouraging help-seeking behaviours.
CRISIS Core Element – Integration
The dynamic integration of experience is an intrinsic propensity that all humans share. Therefore, CRISIS facilitators are trained to provide a highly structured and supportive conversation, designed to augment natural processing of the critical incident.
CRISIS Core Element – Safety
People may become vulnerable following distressing experiences. Therefore, CRISIS facilitators are trained to recognise and handle safeguarding issues that may arise through critical incidents, and consider issues of physical and psychological safety.
CRISIS Core Element – Information
Information is a vital part of stabilising people following critical incidents. CRISIS facilitators are trained to understand and deliver informational support to normalise stress reactions, understand what happened, and understand the potential outcomes of the critical incident.
CRISIS Core Element – Support
In the initial aftermath of a critical incident, its full impact may not be immediately apparent. Therefore CRISIS facilitators are trained to observe periods of active monitoring (watchful waiting) and deliver follow-up sessions to assure timely access to further support if required.
