The
Need
The facts are in and the costs are high! Law Enforcement Officers face
many types of danger in their career. According to the National Law
Enforcement Officers’ Memorial Fund in Washington, D.C., on average
somewhere in America, a Law Enforcement Officer is killed in-the-line-of-duty
every 54 hours.
Law Enforcement Officers often pay another price that doesn’t make
the headlines on the evening news, yet one that still destroys lives.
Stress among Law Enforcement Officers often affects relationships…
ending in divorce – at an annual rate of nearly six times that
of the general population. It spells problems with alcohol and domestic
violence. Stress also means disruption of normal sleeping patterns,
poor eating habits and nutrition, paranoia, fear, anger, and depression.
In addition to day-to-day stresses, officers are exposed to trauma and
critical incidents causing post-traumatic stress disorder. The officer’s
psychological defense mechanisms become over-whelmed causing long term
effects and even suicide. According to research by the National P.O.L.I.C.E.
Suicide Foundation, every 22 hours somewhere in America, a law enforcement
officer commits suicide. Law Enforcement agencies across the country
are recognizing the need to provide training, services, and programs
for officers involved in critical incidents and traumatic events. The
Post Critical Incident Stress Seminar is just what the doctor ordered!
The
Purpose
The purpose of this five day PCISS is to provide individuals who have
experienced a critical incident or traumatic event an opportunity, in
a confidential environment, to share their traumatic experiences with
others and to provide educational information and professional support
that will help the individual develop coping skills to promote normalization
and recovery. Created and designed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
specifically for law enforcement personnel, PCISS offers a safe and
effective method for post incident training.
What
is a Critical Incident?
A critical incident is any event that results in an overwhelming sense
of vulnerability and /or loss of control. These include line-of-duty
shootings, getting shot or seriously injured on the job, high speed
pursuits that end in tragedy…events that bring prolonged and critical
media attention, and personal tragedies.
What
will the individual get out of the Post Critical Incident Stress Seminar?
Participants will get an opportunity to share their own experience with
peers, give and receive support sessions with law enforcement mental
health professional utilizing proven trauma recovery methods, and develop
coping strategies that will enable recovery from past critical incidents
and strengthen ability to deal with future incidents. The facilitators
will include law enforcement mental health professionals, law enforcement
peer support personnel and a law enforcement chaplain.
The
PCISS FBI format includes:
1.) Introductions
2.) Brief History of PCISS
3.) Individual Disclosures
4.) Education on Stress Management, Depression, PTSD, and Suicide
5.) Compassion Fatigue and Burnout
6.) Professional Support
7.) Developing Coping Skills and Peer Support
8.) Overcoming Adversity and Developing a Balanced Life
PCISS
can be approved as In-Service Training. A Certificate of Attendance
will be provided.
