What happens after a critical incident

After a traumatic workplace event, employees may experience shock, disorientation, sleep disruption, intrusive thoughts, difficulty concentrating, or emotional withdrawal. For most people these responses ease with support; for some, they can become longer-lasting without early care.

What response actually involves

Effective response includes psychological first aid, structured support, triage and referral, follow-up monitoring, and leadership guidance. This reflects current international guidance, which favours psychological first aid and active monitoring in the first weeks, with referral to trauma-focused care for anyone whose symptoms persist. It is specialized work that differs from ordinary counselling.

Why planning matters

Organizations in higher-risk sectors benefit from having a clinical relationship and response protocol in place before something happens. That means faster activation, clearer roles, and better communication during a stressful moment.

ESS critical response

Your Counselling ESS includes critical incident and trauma response as a core service, including triage, clinical lead assignment, employer coordination, individual or group support, and anonymous summary reporting where appropriate.

References

  • World Health Organization, War Trauma Foundation, & World Vision International. (2011). Psychological first aid: Guide for field workers. who.int
  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2018). Post-traumatic stress disorder (NICE guideline NG116). nice.org.uk/guidance/ng116
  • CSA Group & BNQ. (2013, reaffirmed 2022). Psychological health and safety in the workplace: Prevention, promotion, and guidance to staged implementation (CAN/CSA-Z1003-13/BNQ 9700-803/2013). csagroup.org