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. 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
- American Psychological Association. (2023). Trauma and stress-related disorders.
- Everly, G. S., & Mitchell, J. T. (2000). Crisis intervention and debriefing.
- Government of Alberta. (2018). Psychological health and safety in the workplace.